Reactions of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) Genotypes for Blast Resistance and Yield in Wukari and Takum Taraba State, Nigeria

Finger millet contains high level of methionine, tryptophan, vitamin B, fibre and minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, which serve a good source of balance diet formulations for hypertension, obesity, diabetic patients, pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, people leaving with HIV, malnourished people, incidence of iron deficiency (anemia), and calcium deficiency causing rickets in young children. Production constraints responsible for the low yields have been identified as pests, blast and Striga, drought, low soil fertility, labor intensity, high weed infestation, low yielding varieties, lodging, and poor attitude to the crop. Finger millet blast about 50% yield losses. This disease has been identified as the highest priority constraint to finger millet production in Nigeria, since most landraces and a number of other genotypes are highly susceptible. Field trials were conducted on 22 germplasm (U 15, P224, ACC 32, ACC14, KNE814, IE 3779, KNE 628, KNE 688, KNE 1149, Etiyo Brown, Gulu E, Kala, RW 127(IE 6613), KNE 392, GBK 029681, ACC 3953, GBK 011136A, KNE 689, KNE 1034, Emiroit, Red local check and Black local check) from ICRISAT and farmers in 3 replicates at Wukari and Takum in 2019, to assess for blast disease resistance and yield. A significant negative correlation (0.52) was found between blast severity and DF (days to flowering) suggesting that late/medium flowering varieties are more resistant than the early ones as indicated by genotypes KNE814, IE 3779, KNE 628, KNE 688, KNE 1149, Gulu E,, KNE 392, GBK 029681, ACC 3953, GBK 011136A, KNE 689, KNE 1034, Emiroit and Red (local check) varieties, which were medium maturing and highly resistance to blast disease, with foliar blast severity (1.07 - 3.0), neck blast (1.5 - 2.5) and finger blast (11 - 25 %), NET (3.45 - 4.38), NFPH (5.80) and subsequently highest yield (1565 - 1887 kg/ha), compared to black local variety with the highest foliar blast severity (4.00 - 6.70), neck blast (2.7 - 4.40), finger blast (32 - 36 %), NET (2.50 - 2.70), NFPH (3.30 - 4.70) and lowest yield (688 - 989 kg/ha), respectively in Wukari and Takum locations. Hence, these varieties resistant to foliar, neck, finger blast diseases, good yield parameters are recommended as sources of germplasm for genetic improvement and further research