One hundred and fifty nine (159) sorghum genotypes from the International Crop Research Institute for the
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), West African National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and local
collections were evaluated at Samaru, Nigeria for resistance to foliar anthracnose under field conditions during
the 1996, 1997 and 1998 wet seasons. Disease reaction was observed six weeks after planting and disease
severity assessed when plants had reached physiological maturity using a 1-9 visual rating scale. Results show
that 42 genotypes showed resistant reaction while 20 and 97 genotypes showed moderately resistant and
susceptible reactions respectively. Resistant genotypes included 14 ICRISAT sorghum varieties (ICSV), 4PB
lines, 8 IS lines, 5 West African NARS lines, 2 SAMSORG varieties, 3NR varieties and 6 local varieties.
Results herein indicate the availability of germplasm with stable resistance to foliar anthracnose. The need for
assessment of these germplasm for panicle anthracnose resistance is highlighted.