10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a climate-resilient cereal that plays a critical role in food security in semi-arid regions, yet its productivity is constrained by destructive fungal diseases and declining seed quality. This review synthesizes current knowledge on fungal disease dynamics in sorghum–legume intercropping systems and the ecological mechanisms through which these systems suppress pathogens and improve crop health. Major fungal diseases, including anthracnose, leaf blight, grain mold, rust, head smut, and covered kernel smut, were examined with emphasis on their epidemiology, economic impact, and implications for sustainable production. Evidence indicates that intercropping sorghum with legumes such as soybean, common bean, cowpea, pigeon pea, and groundnut significantly reduces disease incidence and severity by disrupting pathogen transmission, lowering host density, enhancing beneficial rhizosphere microbial communities, and improving soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. The review further highlights the importance of microclimatic modifications, including improved airflow, reduced canopy humidity, shorter leaf wetness duration, and altered light interception, which collectively create unfavorable conditions for fungal infection and disease progression. Additionally, biological interactions involving root exudates, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobia, and plant growth-promoting microorganisms induce systemic resistance, promote disease-suppressive soils, and strengthen host defense responses. Allelopathic compounds released by sorghum and legumes further influence microbial ecology, nutrient cycling, weed suppression, and pathogen inhibition, contributing to agroecosystem resilience. Collectively, these ecological processes position sorghum–legume intercropping as an effective climate-smart strategy that reduces dependence on synthetic fungicides while enhancing productivity and environmental sustainability. Despite substantial progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying disease suppression, further multidisciplinary research integrating plant pathology, microbial ecology, molecular biology, and agronomy is required to optimize intercrop designs and develop resilient disease management strategies for sustainable sorghum production under changing climatic conditions.