Inheritance of resistance to the panicle-feeding bug Eurystylus oldi and the sorghum midge Stenodiplosis sorghicola in sorghum

A study of the inheritance of sorghum resistance to head-bug Eurystylusoldi and midge Stenodiplosis sorghicola has been conducted from anF1-based complete diallel involving four parental lines (namely head-bugresistant Malisor 84-7 & 87W810, and susceptible S 34 & ICSV 197).The trial was conducted at Samanko, Mali, under both natural and artificialhead-bug infestation, in one date of sowing (DOS) in 1995 and two DOSin 1996. Head-bug visual damage scores (under both types of infestation)were indicated and analyzed in all these trials. Head-bug numbers underartificial infestation on the two DOS of 1996, and midge damage scoreunder natural infestation on the second DOS of 1996 were recorded. Allfour parents confirmed their expected level of resistance to head-bugs,while ICSV 197 confirmed its resistance to midge. Diallel analyses showedthat general combining ability (GCA) and thus additive gene effects werevery important in the inheritance of resistance to both pests. Specificcombining ability and maternal effects were generally of minor importance.Mean performance of the parents and their GCA effects were linked, whichsuggests high heritability. Head-bug resistant parents, Malisor 84-7 &87W810, with high per se resistance and negative GCA shouldtherefore be used in breeding for resistance to this pest, while for a similarreason, ICSV 197 should be used in breeding for midge resistance. Resultsconcerning independance between resistance to head-bugs and to midge,are also discussed.