Sorghum Diseases in India

Multiple disease resistance insect nursery Ergot
Multiple-disease resistance combined with insect
resistance is needed and additional effort at
national and international levels is desirable.
Nurseries such as ISDMN and International Sorghum
Multiple Disease Resistance Nursery (IS-
MDRN) have been beneficial and need to be
strengthened. New research nurseries, such as
an international multiple-disease-CVM-insect
resistance nursery may be started. Development
of integrated management programs for major
diseases could be of great value.
Research Needs
Grain molds
1. Incorporation of resistance into high-yielding
commercial genotypes.
2. Study of the mechanisms and genetics of
resistance.
3. Identify effective systemic fungicides.
Charcoal rot, fusarium root, and stalk rot
1. Development of effective screening techniques.
2. Study of the stalk-rot complex, its development,
and the role and interactions of different
fungi.
3. Study of the genetics of resistance and development
of resistance sources.
4. Incorporation of resistance in commercial
sorghums.
5. Determination of yield losses and conditions
favoring disease development.
6. Biological control methods and integrated
control programs.
Downy mildew
1. Incorporation of resistance into B-lines and
development of new resistant A-lines.
2. Development of resistant hybrids involving
resistant parents.
3. Study of germination and role of oospores.
4. Study of the effect of oospore and/or conidia
concentrations on resistance.
1. Standardization of screening techniques,
identification of resistant sources.
2. Incorporation of resistance sources into commercial
sorghum.
3. Clarification of the role and value of pollen
management in dealing with ergot disease.
4. Identify effective systemic fungicides.
Leaf diseases
1. Incorporation of multiple-disease resistance
into commercial sorghums.
2. Determination of yield losses due to the major
leaf diseases.
3. Identification of systemic fungicides to control
the major foliar diseases.
4. Clarification of the mechanisms of inheritance
of resistance to leaf spot diseases.
References
Agarwal, S.C., and Kotasthane, S.R. 1973. Efficacy
of systemic fungicides and antibiotics in
checking the rust of Sorghum vulgare L. Science
and Culture 39:235-236.
Anahosur, K.H. 1979. Chemical control of ergot
of sorghum. Indian Phytopathology 32:487-489.
Anahosur, K.H. 1980. Current sorghum downy
mildew research in the All India Sorghum Project.
Pages 200-206 in Sorghum diseases, a world
review: proceedings of the International Workshop
on Sorghum Diseases, 11-15 Dec 1978, Hyberabad,
India. Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh 502
324, India: International Crops Research Institute
for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
Anahosur, K.H. 1981. Chemical control of sorghum
rust. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
51:111-112.
Anahosur, K.H. 1983. Comparison of the tooth
pick and sick plot method on the incidence of
charcoal rot in sorghum. Sorghum Newsletter
26:108-109.
53