Authors : Joseph Andrew Wandulu; Michael Otim; Herbert Talwana

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3xaa7rvt

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec839

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Sorghum Sorghum bicolor has become a key food crop, animal forage, and a commercial raw material. Sorghum is a versatile crop, drought tolerant and modified to grow under rough environmental situations. Worldwide, the sorghum midge Stenodiplosis sorghicola, is a major pest of grain sorghum. Host plant resistance is the most important pest control measure in sorghum production. There is little information on the impact of sorghum midge pest on sorghum. This study assessed the sorghum midge preference for the host plant and its choice where to oviposit its eggs, and the damage caused to grain sorghum, under choice and no choice situations in the experimental field and in cages. A randomized complete block experimental design was used. Significantly (P < 0.05) fewer (1.67 – 3.27) adult female midge flies infested sorghum germplasm; AS21, AF28, GA08/103, IS8884, IESV94023SH, SEREDO, and SEKEDO compared to the midge susceptible GA010/010 and WAD checks. The same germplasm had less yield loss 14.91-58.79% and considered resistant to midge pest attack and damage. Germplasm GA010/010 was significantly (P < 0.05) most infested and damaged giving high yield loss of 60 – 99%, and more midge larvae presence of 46 – 66%, considered susceptible to midge. Sorghum midge mostly infested susceptible sorghum germplasm on which it laid eggs compared to resistant ones. High midge pest pressure caused more damage to grain sorghum, irrespective of host resistance status. Sorghum flower structural parts were found to effect resistance or susceptibility to sorghum midge flies. Midge resistant sorghum germplasm; AF28, AS21, GA07/84, SEREDO, and GA08/103 had significantly (P<0.05) shorter flower style lengths of 0.39 – 0.64mm, compared to the susceptible germplasm GA010/010 with 0.94mm. Midge resistant germplasm AF28, AS21, SEREDO, and IESV94023SH had significantly (P < 0.05) smaller exposed portion of the lower glume width ranging between 0.072 – 0.192mm, compared to that of GA010/010 (0.216mm) a midge susceptible germplasm. Unique sorghum floral morphological traits identified in promising sorghum genetic materials against sorghum midge are important in breeding for resistance against sorghum midge.

Keywords : Stenodiplosis Sorghicolar, Host-Resistance, Antixenosis, Antibiosis.

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