In vitro screening of sorghum rhizobacteria for antagonism against selected sorghum foliar phytopathogens and their potential use in biocontrol

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an African native drought resistant wild plant. It is particularly adapted to agro-ecological zones of Kenya which are arid and semi-arid and performs well on a range of poor soils often outyielding most cereals in hot and dry environments. The crop, therefore, alongside millets, serves as an important food security crop in Kenya. The production of sorghum has significantly been threatened by diseases (especially anthracnose) and insect pests.