Sorghum Diseases in India

Sorghum Diseases in Brazil
C.R. Casela 1 , A.S. Ferreira 2 , and R.E. Schaffert 3
Abstract
Sorghum in Brazil is subject to damage by several diseases. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola)
is the most damaging disease occurring in all areas of the country. Rust (Puccinia
purpurea) is also becoming an important sorghum disease in Brazil, and charcoal rot (Macrophomina
phaseolina) has been observed in the semi-arid northeastern region, as well as in late
(February) sowings in central Brazil. Downy mildew (Peronosclerospora sorghi) persists as an
important disease in the southern parts of the country. Zonate leaf spot (Gloeocercospora
sorghi), ladder spot (Cercospora fusimaculans), leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum), and stalk
rot (Colletotrichum graminicola), have been causing only moderate damage.
Introduction
Sorghum, a relatively new crop in Brazil, is
increasing both in production and area sown.
Production increased 39% and the area sown increased
by 38% from 1982 to 1984, and average
yield was 1.8 t ha -1 (Veiga 1986) (Table 1).
The states of Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Paulo,
and Parana, produce more than 75% of the sorghum
grain in Brazil, with an average yield of
2 t ha -1 .
In Rio Grande do Sul, sorghum is becoming a
traditional crop, sown mostly in a crop-rotation
system with soybeans (Veiga 1986). In the semiarid
northeast, sorghum production is concentrated
in the states of Pernambuco, Bahia, Ceara,
and Rio Grande do Norte. Sorghum, due to its
drought tolerance and higher yields, is one of the
alternatives to maize for farmers in this region.
In central Brazil, sorghum is now becoming
an important option for farmers; it can be sown
in February after harvest of the principal crop,
usually soybeans. This is becoming a traditional
system in the states of Sao Paulo and Parana in
southern Brazil (Vianna et al. 1986).
Most of the grain sorghum cultivated in Brazil
are with hybrids, except in the northeastern
areas, where varieties are used.
Grain sorghum in Brazil is used principally in
swine and poultry rations, but the National
Maize and Sorghum Research Center is developing
sorghum cultivars for human consumption.
Several studies in Brazil have shown that sorghum
can be mixed with wheat flour in proportions
varying from 15 to 50% for baking in
breads, cakes, cookies, etc., without significant
change in the quality of the products.
In central Brazil, sorghum for this purpose
should be sown in February, just after harvest of
the soybean. In the semi-arid northeastern region,
the drier conditions permit good grain
quality (Schaffert 1986). Forage sorghums are
used principally for silage production for dairy
cattle; however the silage can also be fed to beef
cattle.
Experiments in Brazil indicate that sweet sorghum
can be used to produce alcohol for fuel, to
be used pure or mixed with gasoline. The National
Maize and Sorghum Research Center has
recently released new varieties of sweet sorghum.
1. Sorghum Breeder for Disease Resistance, National Maize and Sorghum Research Center-EMBRAPA (NMSRC), Sete Lagoas,
Minas Gerais, Brazil
2. Sorghum Pathologist at the above address.
3. Sorghum Breeder at the above address.
Casela, C.R., Ferreira, A.S., and Schaffert, R.E. 1992. Sorghum diseases in Brazil. Pages 57-62 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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