Survey of Smut Diseases on Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) constitutes a primary food crop and drought-resilient production option for smallholder farmers in Zamfara State, where semi-arid conditions limit alternatives. Smut diseases, including head smut caused by Moesziomyces penicillariae and kernel smut caused by Tolyposporium penicillariae, pose threats to grain yield and seed viability in millet-growing communities. This survey investigated the incidence and distribution of smut diseases in pearl millet fields across three agricultural districts of Zamfara State during the 2023 cropping season. Sixty farms were surveyed using standardised transect methods, and smutted heads and grains were collected for laboratory confirmation. Moesziomyces penicillariae was confirmed in all positive cases through spore morphology and molecular marker analysis. Smut incidence ranged from 8 to 34 percent across surveyed farms, with the highest levels in communities using unselected farmer-saved seed from previous seasons. Fields planted earlier in the season consistently showed lower smut incidence compared to late-planted crops, supporting literature attributing lower infection pressure to environmental conditions during early germination. Most farmers lacked knowledge of seed treatment as a smut prevention strategy. The study recommends community seed treatment campaigns using thiram-based seed dressings and promotion of improved open-pollinated millet varieties with documented smut resistance for distribution in Zamfara State. Keywords: pearl millet, smut disease, Moesziomyces penicillariae, Zamfara, disease incidence.