Sorghum Diseases in India

Sorghum Diseases in Eastern Africa
Mengistu Hulluka 1 and J.P.E. Esele 2
Abstract
Sorghum diseases in eastern Africa, last reviewed by Doggett in 1978 continue to be important
constraints to production of this cereal Of the head blights and grain diseases, covered smuts,
grain mold, and ergot appear to be economically important. The major leaf diseases are anthracnose,
leaf blight, gray leaf spot, and downy mildew. Charcoal rot is the important stalk rot disease
in the region. Surveys of sorghum diseases have been undertaken in most countries of eastern
Africa. Priorities have been determined. In most instances, the current condition dictates that the
Striga problem receives more attention, as present research consists mainly of screening for disease
resistance. In some countries more detailed work is underway, including breeding to incorporate
resistance factors into elite local lines by using exotic materials as donors. More attention needs to
be given on specific research on sorghum disease management in the future.
Introduction The Current Situation
Sorghum improvement has been significant in
eastern Africa during the past decade. Some
countries, like Sudan, are producing hybrid
sorghum on a large scale, and have others in
the pipeline. The programs of pathological
studies receive better attention than ever before.
These developments were made possible
because of the increasing demand to improve
sorghum production in eastern Africa.
Eastern African countries included in this
report are Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda,
Somalia, Uganda, Sudan, and part of Tanzania.
These countries collectively produce
about 4 million tonnes of grain sorghum per
year on just over 6 million hectares of land
(Guiragossian 1986). Almost 90% of the area
sown to sorghum in eastern Africa is located
in Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Somalia
(Table 1).
During the 1978 Workshop, Doggett (1980) and
Hulluka and Gebrekidan (1980), outlined a list of
sorghum diseases commonly occurring in this
region. Not much has changed in regard to types
of diseases, but some have gained in importance
and demand closer attention.
According to Guiragossian (1986), disease
problems in the region are not so urgent as to
warrant priority over breeding, agronomic, and
entomological problems. Landrace sorghum
populations constitute about 90% of the production,
and disease problems are minimal with
landraces. However, when improved varieties
are considered, the case is different. Some diseases
need attention, and could become priority
problems. Doggett (1980) mentioned this 10
years ago when he said that diseases such as leaf
blight, anthracnose, charcoal rot, ergot, and
grain mold are troublesome on improved lines.
1. Associate Professor, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center (AUA), PO Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
2. Research Officer, (UAFRO), Sorghum and Millet Unit, Serere Research Station, PO Saoroti, Uganda.
Hulluka, M., and Esele, J.P.E. 1992. Sorghum diseases in eastern Africa. Pages 21-24 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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