Current status of sorghum smuts in Nigeria

Survey of farmers' fields in major sorghum growing areas within the four cl imatic zones of the Nigerian savanna established changing patterns in the i ncidence, severity and distribution of sorghum smuts. Covered smut (Sporiso rium sorghi) although widely distributed, was found to be highly predominan t in the Sudan (24.8%) and northern Guinea (29.5%) savanna. Loose smuts (Sp hacelotheca cruenta) and long smuts (Tolyposporium ehrenbergii) were most p revalent in the Sahel savanna (21.8% and 15.5%, respectively). Head smut (S porisorium relianum) was absent in the Sahel and Sudan, low in northern Gui nea savanna zones, but was most predominant in the southern Guinea savanna. These smuts are economically important and continue to be a major biotic c onstraint in the effort to sustain high sorghum production levels.