Distribution and Severity of Sorghum Covered Smut in North West Ethiopia

Field assessment for sorghum covered kernel smut (Sporisorium sorghi) incidence, severity and yield losses and field experiment under artificial inoculation of sorghum seeds were conducted. Field experiment was done under artificial inoculation of sorghum seeds. Field assessment result showed that the disease was found highly distributed, severe with remarkable yield loss. Field experiment indicated out of twelve sorghum varieties evaluated with covered kernel smut, notably local cultivar, ‘ Tetron' was found to be immune. Disease incidence and severity on the rest of the cultivars varied from 21 to 47% and 40 to 53%, respectively. Differences among cultivars in yield loss were also recorded.