Sorghum Diseases in India
Sorghum Diseases in India
Sorghum Diseases in India
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Sorghum</strong> <strong>Diseases</strong> <strong>in</strong> Eastern Africa<br />
Mengistu Hulluka 1 and J.P.E. Esele 2<br />
Abstract<br />
<strong>Sorghum</strong> diseases <strong>in</strong> eastern Africa, last reviewed by Doggett <strong>in</strong> 1978 cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be important<br />
constra<strong>in</strong>ts to production of this cereal Of the head blights and gra<strong>in</strong> diseases, covered smuts,<br />
gra<strong>in</strong> mold, and ergot appear to be economically important. The major leaf diseases are anthracnose,<br />
leaf blight, gray leaf spot, and downy mildew. Charcoal rot is the important stalk rot disease<br />
<strong>in</strong> the region. Surveys of sorghum diseases have been undertaken <strong>in</strong> most countries of eastern<br />
Africa. Priorities have been determ<strong>in</strong>ed. In most <strong>in</strong>stances, the current condition dictates that the<br />
Striga problem receives more attention, as present research consists ma<strong>in</strong>ly of screen<strong>in</strong>g for disease<br />
resistance. In some countries more detailed work is underway, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g breed<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>in</strong>corporate<br />
resistance factors <strong>in</strong>to elite local l<strong>in</strong>es by us<strong>in</strong>g exotic materials as donors. More attention needs to<br />
be given on specific research on sorghum disease management <strong>in</strong> the future.<br />
Introduction The Current Situation<br />
<strong>Sorghum</strong> improvement has been significant <strong>in</strong><br />
eastern Africa dur<strong>in</strong>g the past decade. Some<br />
countries, like Sudan, are produc<strong>in</strong>g hybrid<br />
sorghum on a large scale, and have others <strong>in</strong><br />
the pipel<strong>in</strong>e. The programs of pathological<br />
studies receive better attention than ever before.<br />
These developments were made possible<br />
because of the <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g demand to improve<br />
sorghum production <strong>in</strong> eastern Africa.<br />
Eastern African countries <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> this<br />
report are Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda,<br />
Somalia, Uganda, Sudan, and part of Tanzania.<br />
These countries collectively produce<br />
about 4 million tonnes of gra<strong>in</strong> sorghum per<br />
year on just over 6 million hectares of land<br />
(Guiragossian 1986). Almost 90% of the area<br />
sown to sorghum <strong>in</strong> eastern Africa is located<br />
<strong>in</strong> Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Somalia<br />
(Table 1).<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the 1978 Workshop, Doggett (1980) and<br />
Hulluka and Gebrekidan (1980), outl<strong>in</strong>ed a list of<br />
sorghum diseases commonly occurr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> this<br />
region. Not much has changed <strong>in</strong> regard to types<br />
of diseases, but some have ga<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> importance<br />
and demand closer attention.<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Guiragossian (1986), disease<br />
problems <strong>in</strong> the region are not so urgent as to<br />
warrant priority over breed<strong>in</strong>g, agronomic, and<br />
entomological problems. Landrace sorghum<br />
populations constitute about 90% of the production,<br />
and disease problems are m<strong>in</strong>imal with<br />
landraces. However, when improved varieties<br />
are considered, the case is different. Some diseases<br />
need attention, and could become priority<br />
problems. Doggett (1980) mentioned this 10<br />
years ago when he said that diseases such as leaf<br />
blight, anthracnose, charcoal rot, ergot, and<br />
gra<strong>in</strong> mold are troublesome on improved l<strong>in</strong>es.<br />
1. Associate Professor, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center (AUA), PO Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.<br />
2. Research Officer, (UAFRO), <strong>Sorghum</strong> and Millet Unit, Serere Research Station, PO Saoroti, Uganda.<br />
Hulluka, M., and Esele, J.P.E. 1992. <strong>Sorghum</strong> diseases <strong>in</strong> eastern Africa. Pages 21-24 <strong>in</strong> <strong>Sorghum</strong> and millets diseases: a second<br />
world review, (de Milliano, W.A.J., Frederiksen, R.A., and Bengston, G.D., eds). Patancheru, A.P. 502 324, <strong>India</strong>: International<br />
Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.<br />
21