Presented by Mathews M.Dida (Maseno University) at the First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-27 February 2013

1. Evaluation of Kenyan Finger millet
accessions for Blast disease and Striga
weed
Prof. Mathews M.Dida
Department of Applied Plant Sciences
School Of Agriculture & Food Security
Maseno University, Kenya
First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific Conference
United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC-ECA)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-27 February 2013

2. Importance of finger millet (E.coracana)
Nutritious cereal in
eastern Africa.
Rich in amino acids
and minerals.
Excellent storage
qualities.

3. Major Constraints to finger millet
production
Blast disease
Striga weed
Lodging
Drought

4. Objectives of study
To evaluate response of diverse finger millet
lines/accessions for Blast disease and Striga
hermonthica in western Kenya, and
To identify genotypes with best agronomic
traits for breeding

5. Materials and Methods
80 finger millet lines were evaluated for blast and
other agronomic characters at Maseno University
farm long rains (LR) season of 2012
80finger millet lines were evaluated for Striga
response in a Striga-sick farm in Ragengni in Siaya
in LR Season of 2012
Experimental designs were Randomized Complete
Blocks with 2 replicates of single 3 m long plots.
All experiments were done under natural disease or
weed pressure.

6. Striga weed in experimental plots at
Ragengni

7. Blast experiment:Maseno Site
Data collected;
seed yield per plot, blast severity and lodging (on scales
of 1-5), plant height, days to 50 percent flowering and
threshing percentage
Striga experiment: Ragengni Site
Data collected;
seed yield per plot, plant height, days to 50 percent
flowering.
Striga weed damage ratings were visually taken on a scale
of 1 to 5 at 60 and 80 days after planting.

8. Results and Discussion
Summary of results of phenotype screening at Maseno
for top 20 percent of lines based on seed yield
Days to Blast Lodging Grain Plt
Rank Entry flow severity score yield (g) height Threshing %
1 105 71 1.8 1 670 111.9 0.76
2 146 69 1.4 2 620 115.6 0.81
3 47 74 1.0 2.8 610 118.1 0.81
4 102 74 1.4 2 600 116.5 0.75
5 113 75 1.1 2 582.5 117.9 0.81
6 125 68 2.2 2.3 545 118.6 0.80
7 119 75 1.4 1.3 45 115.3 0.81
8 90 76 1.3 2.2 530 123.3 0.75
9 61 80 1.2 3.5 530 141.2 0.67
10 55 73 2.0 3 515 133.3 0.79
11 150 77 1.5 3.8 505 125.2 0.75
12 94 82 1.1 1.3 505 136.3 0.77
13 124 75 1.4 1.3 505 121 0.71
14 71 66 1.7 1 495 110 0.77
15 80 79 1.6 2 485 139.2 0.75
16 5 76 1.6 1.9 485 124.1 0.73
Mean 75.4 1.80 2.31 396.56 121.99 0.72
LSD 6.37 0.8 1.42 190.69 20.14 0.09
CV (%) 4.24 22.23 30.86 24.16 8.29 6.29

9. Results & Discussion Cont,
• Genotypes score ranges
• Blast Severity 1-3.7
• Days to flowering 61-84
• Lodging score 1-4.8
• Threshing % 0.38-0.83
• 75 % of lines scored 2 or less for head blast
• Lodging was prevalent and serious at Maseno.
• Some tall and semi dwarf finger millet lines
were resistant to lodging.

10. Summary of results of Striga screening at Ragengni for top
20 percent of lines based on seed yield
Striga
Grain ratings
Days to Yield at 60 Striga ratings Mean Striga
Rank ENTRY fower (g/plot) days at 80 days Ratings
1 82 72 445 2.5 1.8 2.1
2 146 71 405 1.9 1.5 1.7
3 149 63 360 1.0 2.3 1.6
4 119 74 295 3.1 2.7 2.9
5 97 72 285 1.5 2.5 2.0
6 148 70 285 1.9 2.7 2.3
7 150 80 275 2.8 1.9 2.4
8 144 63 265 1.0 2.7 1.8
9 5 78 250 2.8 2.5 2.6
10 102 70 245 1.5 1.8 1.6
11 121 73 235 2.7 2.4 2.5
12 94 80 230 1.5 2 1.8
13 147 71 230 2.7 2.7 2.7
14 96 79 225 2.9 3 3.0
15 106 79 225 2.7 2.4 2.5
16 108 74 222.5 2.7 2.5 2.6
Mean 75.4 162.7 2.8 2.7 2.8
LSD 6.4 122.6 1.1 0.9 0.9
CV 4.2 37.8 20.4 16.5 15.5

11. CONCLUSIONS
1. Finger millet genotypes 2. Lodging resistant were
with the best blast (a).Semi dwarf lines (90-
severity rating of 1 115 cm)
were;
• Entries 23,71,105 & 141,
Entries 45 and 47 namely; the IE 2431, IE 3534,IE
GBK033368 or IE 2412 &
2437and GBK033370 or WhiteSel6,respectively.
IE 2555
(b). Tall lines (>120 cm)
Entries 68,81,100 & 131
namely; IE 2441, IE3520,IE
2485,IE2393,respectively.

12. CONCLUSIONS CONT.
3. Entries 102 (IE2396,
146 (Gulu E) and 149
(White Sel6 x IE2035)
were resistant to Striga
weed and had severity
rating of 1.6 or 1.7
4. The lowest grain
yielders were
susceptible and had
severity ratings of 4.
These were entries nos.
16, 22, 101, 113 & 141; IE Gulu-E
2377, IE 2459, IE
2427, IE 2567 &White
Sel6, respectively.

13. Recommendations
Further Study
1. Estimates of yield losses in finger millet due Striga
weed infestation should be made under farmer’s
fields using bigger plots.
2. Mechanisms of Striga weed resistance in finger
millet should be determined.
3. The mechanisms of lodging resistance in tall finger
millet lines should be determined.
Outputs
4. The identified blast, lodging and Striga resistant
genotypes should be disseminated to farmers or be
deployed in breeding programs.

14. Acknowledgements
• Maseno University
• Job Otieno, Field Assistant
• Jonathan Achuongo and Julius Ndenda, Field Attendants
• Elly K Onde, Owner of Striga sick farm
• This research was funded by Sida through Bio-Innovate
Africa