Sorghum Diseases in India
Sorghum Diseases in India
Sorghum Diseases in India
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Segaolane, Marupantse and Kanye (Botswana),<br />
SAR 1, QL 3, (148 x Framida) -sel, KU 302; KU<br />
417, (SC 108-3 x CS 3541) -sel and (IS 12611 x SC<br />
108-3) -sel Red-gra<strong>in</strong>ed sorghums with resistance<br />
to leaf blight were the Botswana varieties<br />
65 D and Town. The variety Framida and the<br />
hybrids PNR 8544 and PNR 8311 were susceptible<br />
to leaf blight.<br />
Downy mildew. Epiphytotics occurred regularly<br />
<strong>in</strong> Botswana (Botswana: M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture,<br />
1987), Zimbabwe, and Zambia at locations<br />
situated at altitudes from sea level to<br />
1448 m and ra<strong>in</strong>fall of more than 400 mm. Dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a 29-day drought period <strong>in</strong> January and February<br />
1987, severities <strong>in</strong>creased uniformly, likely<br />
because leaf wetness caused by dew persisted<br />
long enough for successful <strong>in</strong>fection. In Zimbabwe,<br />
research was <strong>in</strong>itiated to study yield<br />
loss, us<strong>in</strong>g chemicals to control the disease <strong>in</strong> the<br />
control plots. With the assistance of ICRISAT scientists,<br />
moderate-scale sorghum downy mildew<br />
sick plots of 2.5 hectares each, were developed<br />
by adapt<strong>in</strong>g techniques for use at the SADCC/<br />
ICRISAT <strong>Sorghum</strong> and Millets Improvement<br />
Program at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (20°24'S latitude,<br />
28°28'E longitude, 1342 m altitude, 594 mm<br />
ra<strong>in</strong>fall) <strong>in</strong> the 1986/87 season and at Golden<br />
Valley, Zambia, <strong>in</strong> the 1987/88 season. At<br />
Bulawayo it was established that the ratoon and<br />
the downy mildew pathogen can survive the<br />
cold dry season, and that spreader rows can be<br />
well established with <strong>in</strong>oculum from the surviv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
ratoon. By late September 1987, there were<br />
about 10 stems m -2 ; about 50% of the stems were<br />
show<strong>in</strong>g symptoms of systemic <strong>in</strong>fection.<br />
Sandala released <strong>in</strong> Tanzania, ZSV 1 (= ICSV<br />
2 = SPV 386) released <strong>in</strong> Zambia <strong>in</strong> 1983, and SV<br />
1 (= ICSV 112 = SPV 475) released <strong>in</strong> 1985 <strong>in</strong><br />
Zimbabwe, were all resistant to downy mildew<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>oculation. Framida, Serena, Red<br />
Nyoni, SV 2 (Zimbabwe), and Tegemeo (Tanzania)<br />
appeared moderately susceptible. Marupantse,<br />
Kanye, 65 D, Town and Segaolane (least<br />
susceptible) from Botswana, Siloe Best, Nyakosa<br />
Best and Tenant White from Lesotho, and Red<br />
Swazi (from Zimbabwe) were susceptible. The<br />
commercial hybrids PNR 8311 and PNR 8544 appeared<br />
resistant <strong>in</strong> 1987, but only moderately resistant<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1988. DC 75 was moderately susceptible.<br />
Resistance was found <strong>in</strong> local collections<br />
from many southern African countries, although<br />
not <strong>in</strong> Botswana and Swaziland. Resistance was<br />
found, however, <strong>in</strong> germplasm that had been<br />
newly <strong>in</strong>troduced to these countries. Many entries<br />
which were identified as resistant at ICRI<br />
SAT Center, such as QL 3 and entries from the<br />
International ICRISAT <strong>Sorghum</strong> Downy Mildew<br />
Nursery, appeared resistant <strong>in</strong> Zimbabwe. Consider<strong>in</strong>g<br />
that a good number of advanced entries<br />
appeared to be resistant (38-75% of the entries<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Zimbabwean national nurseries at Matopos<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1987), it does not appear to be essential to<br />
develop a separate program to transfer genes<br />
from highly resistant material to locally adapted<br />
material.<br />
Two forms of <strong>in</strong>complete resistance were observed<br />
which will receive further attention to<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d practical uses: In one, symptoms were present<br />
on all leaves, but head exertion and fertility<br />
were normal. In the other, symptoms appeared<br />
immediately after <strong>in</strong>fection <strong>in</strong> the seedl<strong>in</strong>g stage,<br />
but disappeared dur<strong>in</strong>g crop development, and<br />
seed production appeared normal.<br />
It was furthermore observed at Matopos,<br />
Zimbabwe, that symptoms of systemic <strong>in</strong>fection<br />
disappeared dur<strong>in</strong>g the cold dry season, but<br />
reappeared when it was warmer <strong>in</strong> late September.<br />
Consider<strong>in</strong>g the crop's vulnerability, as seen<br />
<strong>in</strong> Botswana and Lesotho, and the common occurrence<br />
of downy mildew <strong>in</strong> countries such as<br />
Zambia and Zimbabwe, it is important for<br />
farmers of the southern African region that<br />
Zambia and Zimbabwe cont<strong>in</strong>ue the regional<br />
screen<strong>in</strong>g activities <strong>in</strong>itiated with the assistance<br />
of SADCC/ICRISAT <strong>Sorghum</strong> and Millets Improvement<br />
Program. Chemical seed treatment<br />
to control downy mildew, <strong>in</strong>itiated <strong>in</strong> Botswana<br />
and Zimbabwe, needs attention relative to use <strong>in</strong><br />
other areas.<br />
Sooty stripe. Severe epiphytotics have occurred<br />
at several locations <strong>in</strong> Tanzania, Zambia, and<br />
Zimbabwe. A Sooty Stripe and Downy Mildew<br />
Resistance Nursery was established <strong>in</strong> Zambia<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1986 for further test<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the region. ZSV 1<br />
(a Zambian release) and Tegemeo (Tanzania)<br />
have shown outstand<strong>in</strong>g resistance. Germplasm<br />
has been collected from western and eastern Africa<br />
and from Texas A&M University (INTSOR-<br />
MIL) for confirmation of resistance at this<br />
nursery.<br />
Rust. Severe epiphytotics occur regularly at several<br />
locations <strong>in</strong> Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania,<br />
15