Sweet stalk sorghum is grown in Burkina Faso primarily for its grain, forage, and sugar-rich stalks. However, its productivity is heavily reliant on rainfall, and the variability in annual precipitation significantly limits its contribution to household food security. In this context, identifying droughttolerant genotypes with stable performance is a key breeding priority. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of sweet stalk sorghum genotypes over two consecutive growing seasons (2022 and 2023). Field trials were conducted at the Gampéla research station using an alpha lattice design with three replications. The genetic material comprised 120 local genotypes and one stay-green check variety (B35). Fourteen agronomic traits were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant seasonal effects for 12 traits. Multivariate analysis, supported by mean comparisons, identified 24 potentially stay-green genotypes, including B35. This group was characterized by high leaf retention (73.21%), high sugar content (Brix = 21.33%), and early flowering (78.44 days). Stability analysis highlighted genotypes BSA2 and NBO1 for their consistently high Brix levels. Genotypes KNO2 and KSK2 maintained stable juice yields, while BKO2 and BMK1 showed consistent biomass production. Despite seasonal variations, these stable genotypes represent strong candidates for developing resilient, dual-purpose sorghum varieties suited to low-rainfall environments.

Sweet-stalk sorghum; Stay-green; Stability; Burkina Faso