Researchers in Burkina Faso have discovered a wide range of fungal diseases affecting quinoa, a highly nutritious pseudo-cereal crop. These diseases, including damping-off, crown rot, and gray mold, can cause significant crop losses and threaten the successful introduction of quinoa in the region. Understanding the underlying fungal pathogens is a crucial step towards developing effective control strategies and ensuring the long-term viability of quinoa production in Burkina Faso.
Diverse Fungal Diseases Threaten Quinoa Crop
Quinoa, an Andean pseudo-cereal, has gained global attention for its exceptional nutritional profile and potential to address malnutrition, particularly in developing countries. Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation in West Africa, has been actively promoting the cultivation of quinoa to diversify its agricultural landscape and improve food security. However, the introduction of this crop has been accompanied by the emergence of a range of fungal diseases that pose a significant threat to its success.
Identifying the Culprits
Researchers from the Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA) and the University Nazi BONI in Burkina Faso conducted a comprehensive study to diagnose the various fungal diseases affecting quinoa plants across the country’s three major agro-ecological zones. They collected and analyzed 138 samples from 22 different localities, revealing the presence of six distinct fungal diseases, including:
1. Damping-off: Caused by fungi like Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moliniforme, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Ascochyta rabiei, this disease affects seedlings, leading to seed rot, root and hypocotyl browning, and ultimately, plant death.
2. Brown crown rot: Fungi such as Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, and Fusarium moniliforme are responsible for this disease, which manifests as wet patches on the upper part of the plant’s collar, followed by chlorosis and stalk bending.
3. Brown stalk rot: Phoma exigua, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum dematium, and Macrophomina phaseolina cause this disease, which leads to the appearance of necrotic spots on the stalk, resulting in a strangulated shape and plant collapse.
The Devastating Gray Mold
The researchers found that one of the most prevalent and destructive diseases affecting quinoa in Burkina Faso is gray mold, caused by the fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Melanospora zamiae, and Botrytis cinerea. This disease can appear as soon as the plant’s panicle (inflorescence) begins to form, causing the panicle to become flaccid and drooping. Within a week, the main and secondary panicles can completely dry out, and the disease can spread rapidly, affecting all the plants in a field within 10 days.
The Importance of Integrated Strategies
The study also revealed that the prevalence and distribution of these fungal diseases are closely linked to the agro-ecological conditions of Burkina Faso. The southern Sudanian zone, with its higher rainfall and humidity, was found to have a higher incidence of diseases compared to the drier northern Sudanian and Sahelian zones.
Given the significance of quinoa in the global effort to combat malnutrition, and its potential in Burkina Faso specifically, the researchers emphasize the need for integrated strategies to address these fungal diseases. Developing effective control methods, understanding the epidemiological factors, and promoting the use of disease-resistant quinoa varieties will be crucial to ensuring the successful and sustainable cultivation of this valuable crop in the country.
Author credit: This article is based on research by Louis NEBIE, Abdalla DAO, Tobdem Gaston DABIRE, Schémaéza BONZI, Jacob SANOU, Irénée SOMDA.
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