Pathogenic variability of downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) on pearl millet. I. Host cultivar reactions to infection by different pathogen isolates

SUMMARY Cultivars of pearl millet were challenged by isolates of downy mildew collected from various locations in West Africa and India in order to ascertain whether variability in cultivar response was genetically or environmentally determined. Results of experiments, in Polythene tunnels which imitated tropical field conditions, were confirmed by more precise experiments in an isolation plant propagator. The most important conclusion was that variation is determined by host and pathogen genotypes. West African isolates of the pathogen were generally more pathogenic than Indian isolates. However, there were also substantial differences between two isolates collected from different host cultivars at the same location in Upper Volta. Cultivar ICH105 differentiated between West African and Indian isolates. Cultivars 700516 and MBH110 also showed differential responses between isolates. In contrast two distinct types of symptom expression were recorded and found to be characteristic of cultivar genotype, independent of pathogen isolate. The possibility that both race specific and race non‐specific resistance may coexist in this little understood pathosystem is discussed and the practical implications are considered.