Evaluation of Sorghum Germplasm for Resistance to Insect Pests

Sorghum is one of the most impor tant cereal crops in the semi-arid tropics. Nearly 150 insect species have heen reported to damage this crop wor ldwide, causing an estimated loss of more than US$ 1,000 mi l l ion annually. Of these, sorghum shoot fly [Atherigona soccata), stem horers (Chilo partellus, Busseola fusca, and Diatraea spp), sorghum midge [Stenodiplosis sorghicola), and head bugs (Calocoris angustatus and Eurystylus oldi) are the major pests wor ldwide. Host-plant resistance is one of the most effective means of controlling insect pests in sorghum. ICRISAT holds 36,700 accessions of the sorghum germplasm f rom all over the wor ld. Therefore, extensive screening of the sorghum germplasm was undertaken, and several stable sources of resistance to the key insect pests have been ident i f ied. This informat ion bul let in lists the reactions of the sorghum germplasm accessions to the key pests. This list can be made use of whi le selecting lines wi th resistance to the target pests for use in sorghum improvement