Determination of Twelve Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Varietal Status to Midge Damage in Hotspot Area of Burkina Faso

Sorghum is a staple food for millions of people in rural areas of Burkina Faso and is the most important crop grown in the three different climatic zones. However, in the Eastern part of the country, its production is considerably reduced by sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coquillet, 1898). In this investigation, 12 sorghum varieties were evaluated in midge hotspot areas (Fada) to determine their response to midge damage. A trial was evaluated in hotspot area (Fada) during two years (2022 and 2023) and key traits such as heading time, midge damage and grain yield were measured. Overall, varieties had different plant cycles, different midge damage scores and different grain yield across years, but the varieties performances in the hotspot site were strongly linked to heading time and midge damage. Finally, the tested varieties belonged to 3 varietal statues i.e, early maturing and tolerant, mid maturing and tolerant and late maturing and susceptible as revealed by this study. Early maturing and tolerant group (Kouria, Kapelga and ICSV 1049) was constituted of materials that heading time did not synchronize well with midge egg-laying period and therefore escape insect damage. Mid-maturing and tolerant group (Sariaso 40 and Sariaso 41) were constituted of varieties that heading time synchronized with insect egg-laying period and insect pullulation, but had less damage to grain yield. Those varieties are tolerant and have probably combination of mechanisms that allow them to avoid midge attacks. Late maturing and susceptible group (PR3009B, 014-SB-EPDU-1004, 12B, Sariaso 39, Sariaso 42 and Sariaso 43) are constituted of varieties that headed late with synchronization of glumes opening time to midge egg-laying period. Unfortunately, midge attacks considerably damage their yield. Those varieties are susceptible to the insect.