Identification of Fungal Seed Borne Pathogens in Farm Saved and Certified Seed of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench) and Evaluation of the Incidence and Severity of Seed Borne and Non-seed Borne Disease in the Field.

A study to identify fungal seed borne pathogens on sorghum seed samples and to assess seed to field transmission of these pathogens was carried out at the Crop Science Department in the 2003/04 season. Seed samples collected from Mbare Musika traders and Seed Companies were tested for germination, fungal infection and for Phoma sorghina transmission in the laboratory. The samples were then planted in the field in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated three times. Disease severity on sorghum plants was assessed at 2-week intervals from the time disease symptoms appeared in the field for a period of 10 weeks. Mean normal germination was higher for the farm saved samples (13.15% and 11% for white and red farm saved seed respectively) as compared to the certified samples with 11.5% and 9.25% for white and red certified sample groups respectively. Six pathogenic fungal genera isolated from certified and farm saved samples were Fusarium, Cercospora, Phoma, Bipolaris, Curvularia and Exserohilum. Seed infection with these pathogens ranged from 0 – 38.1%, with Fusarium, Cercospora and Phoma having the highest infection percentages of 38.1%, 33.5% and 34% respectively. The farm saved samples had generally higher infection levels for most pathogens whilst the certified samples had higher infection levels of Cercospora as compared to the other pathogens. Diseases observed in the field were anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola), grey leaf spot (Cercospora sorghi), leaf blight (Phoma sorghina) and covered kernel smut (Sphacelotheca sorghi). There were significant differences in the area under disease progress curves (AUDPC) calculated for the different diseases among the samples (P 0.05). C. sorghi and P. sorghina that were detected in the seed were also observed in the field, showing high seed to field transmission of the pathogens. C. graminicola was not identified in the laboratory but in the field implying that the disease could be from sources other than seed. The presence of seed borne pathogens on certified seed samples indicates a need for improvement in the seed certification procedures for sorghum