Sorghum Diseases in India

Seventeen recommendation committees met and
addressed issues of concern regarding disease
problems and disease management tactics.
1. Smut diseases
2. Sorghum ergot
3. Pearl millet ergot
4. Bacterial diseases
5. Virus diseases
6. Nematology
7. Seed rots and seedling diseases
8. Grain mold
9. Sorghum downy mildew
10. Leaf diseases
11. Anthracnose
12. Sorghum stalk rot
13. Striga
14. Disease management in sorghum and pearl
millet
15. Downy mildew in pearl millet
16. Foliar diseases of pearl millet
17. Utilization of disease resistance for sorghum
and millets
Smut Diseases
Covered and loose kernel smuts
These two diseases are considered low priority
areas. They are controlled by seed dressing. It is
realized, of course, that loose smut infection can
occur in the ratoon crop, but the impacts of loose
and covered smuts are too low to warrant extensive
programs for their control.
National scientists in areas suffering from
these two diseases are encouraged to conduct
seed-dressing demonstration trials to show the
benefits of this practice.
Head smut
This is a potentially serious disease that will require
an integrated approach. Development of
resistant seed parents has been underway for
the past decade. It is recommended that research
workers:
Recommendations
1. Breed elite cultivars for affected regions.
2. Monitor pathotype variation.
3. Exploit cultural, biological, and chemical
means of control.
Long smut (Sorghum and millet)
1. Evaluate effectiveness of natural spread,
using an inoculated spreader variety, in
screening for resistance in areas where the
disease is endemic.
2. Continue with current screening techniques,
and the search for new sources of resistance.
3. The taxonomic position of smut species
occurring on millet needs clarification and
verification; screening programs for
resistance are needed.
Sorghum Ergot
Sorghum ergot was recognized as increasing in
importance in Africa and India, and also in Thailand,
because of the increased use of male steriles
in hybrid production. An acute lack of
knowledge (dependent on fundamental and applied
research coordinated in and between the
regions concerned) presently restricts advances
in control procedures.
1. Study the extent of significant variability in
the pathogen occurring from the eastern tip
of Africa to its southern region, and the relationship
of the fungus occurring in Nigeria,
Burkina Faso, and Senegal. Significant factors
include the rate of infection of ovaries; efficiency
of differentiation of sclerotial tissues,
alkaloid pattern (probably more as an indicator
of genetic variability than as a toxicity
concern); longevity of asexual conidia on
plant debris; and the role of secondary conidiation
in epidemiology (by providing a potential
windborne inoculum).
2. Evaluate, in different countries, the significance
of differences in pathogens of the same
species.
3. Identify and evaluate significance of collateral
hosts, particularly in India and Africa.
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