Adaptation Responses to Early Drought Stress of West Africa Sorghum Varieties

Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop world-wide and feeds millions of people in Sahel. However, it often faces early-stage water deficit due to false onsets rainy seasons resulting production decrease. Therefore, developing early drought tolerant material becomes a necessity but requires good knowledge adaptation mechanisms, which remains be elucidated. The present study aimed at assessing effects stress on ten elite sorghum varieties tested over two years (2018–2019) National Agronomic Research Centre (CNRA) Bambey (Senegal, West Africa). Two different regimes (well-watered stress) were applied during dry season. Water was by withholding irrigation 25 days after sowing for one month, followed optimal until maturity. Soil moisture measurements performed allowed follow level (down fraction transpirable soil (FTSW) 0.30 end stress). An agro-physio-morphological monitoring carried out experiment. Results showed highly significant plants growth decreasing leaf appearance, biomass, height also yield set up. combined analysis variance revealed differences (p ≤ 0.01) between environments characters. Under deficit, variability less strong appearance plant stress. responses related capacity grow up fast complete their cycle rather, increase dead leaves weight, reduce photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration roots length density. V1, V2, V8 V9 promising behavior under could suitable further application Africa breeding farming.