Sorghum Diseases in India

Pearl Millet Diseases in India: Knowledge
and Future Research Needs
K.A. Balasubramanian 1
Abstract
Pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum (P. typhoides) is an important grain and forage cereal of
India. It is grown during the rainy season. Introduction of hybrids using cytoplasmic male sterility
produced dramatic increases in yield on the subcontinent, and more than 2 million ha were sown to
such hybrids when the crop was hit by severe epidemics of downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola).
The hybrids were more susceptible than landraces to ergot, as well Other pearl millet
diseases of importance are smut and rust. The importance of rust became obvious when it was
learned that the pathogen can affect seedling plants.
Satisfactory methods of control of pearl millet diseases in India seem to be limited to host-plant
resistance, although chemical control is practiced in research efforts of high input. Farmers do not,
in general, use chemical control. With practically each disease of pearl millet in India, scientists feel
that information on plant and pathogen and plant-pathogen interactions is incomplete, and additional
study should benefit the effort to develop resistant plants. Computers, demonstrated to be of
great value in studies of diseases of other crops, have not been fully utilized. Multiple-disease
resistance is considered to be an achievable goal.
Introduction
Pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.
(P. typhoides (Burm.) Stapf and Hubb.) is grown
for grain and forage. It occupies an area of about
26 million ha distributed in the tropical and
subtropical areas of Africa and the Indian subcontinent
(FAO 1978). Of the total millet crop
produced in India, 71% is contributed by four
states—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and
Uttar Pradesh. Another 28% of the total production
is contributed by Haryana, Andhra Pradesh,
and Punjab. The millet crop in India is
produced during the rainy season. Pakistan,
Myanmar, and Sri Lanka together produce 4% of
the millet crop in South Asia (Sivakumar et al.
1984).
In India, the first pearl millet hybrids using
cytoplasmic male sterility provided a dramatic
grain yield increase of about 70% or more over
the existing varieties (ICAR 1966). By 1971, more
than 2 million ha were sown to hybrids, when
the first of several major epidemics of downy
mildew occurred (Safeeulla 1977). The hybrids
as a class were found to be more susceptible
than open-pollinated varieties to ergot.
Downy mildew {Sclerospora graminicola Sacc.
Schroet), ergot (Claviceps fusiformis Lov.), smut
(Tolyposporium penicillariae Bref.), and rust (Puccinia
penniseti Zimm.), are important diseases of
pearl millet in India.
Downy Mildew
Downy mildew has been reported from all countries
growing pearl millet except South America
1. Professor and Head, Department of Plant Pathology, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Univeristy, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh 522101.
India.
Balasubramanian, K.A. 1992. Pearl millet diseases in India: knowledge and future research needs. Pages 123-127 in Sorghum and
millets diseases: a second world review, (de Milliano, W.A.J., Frederiksen, R.A., and Bengston, G.D., eds). Patancheru, A.P. 502 324,
India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
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