Use of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in Management of Sorghum Foliar Diseases

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) being a hardy crop is commonly affected by fungal pathogens that reduce their potentiality in curbing human hunger. In an attempt to identify a sustainable management approach, an experiment was set Randomized complete block design under a split plot arrangement in two sites (Kibos and Sega) during the long rains and the short rains season where sorghum varieties formed the main plots while treatments formed the sub plots each replicated thrice. Assessments of foliar disease prevalence were done using severity scales throughout the cropping season. Three sorghum diseases such as Sorghum anthracnose, leaf blight and leaf spot were found prevalent in both sites under the two seasons. In terms of severities, Anthracnose disease was the most severe followed by leaf spot and leaf blight was the least severe. Treatments of seeds with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria was the most efficient in managing all the sorghum foliar diseases identified. Serena variety was found to be the most resistant to anthracnose diseases while Nyadundo 1 and N57 was the most resistant to leaf spot disease. These results points out ability of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium in management of sorghum foliar diseases and also the existence of resistant varieties that can be adopted by farmers to ensure maximum sorghum yields.