Sorghum Diseases in India

A Short Communication on Sorghum Diseases in Europe
G.A. Forbes 1
Abstract
Diseases of current and potential importance on sorghum in southern France, with general
application to sorghum in other regions of Europe are discussed. In general, disease pressure is
relatively low throughout Europe. The importance of seedling disease is not known, but it may
contribute to poor stand establishment, a major problem in the area. Grain mold probably poses a
potential problem for seed production, but does not appear to be a limiting factor for farmers. Other
diseases or disease groups reviewed include head blight, head smut, foliar diseases, stalk rots, and
those caused by viruses.
Introduction
The sources of information for this review are
based on the author's observations in a few
of the sorghum-growing regions in southern
France, conversations with sorghum workers
(generally plant breeders) in France, and a brief
literature search for reports of sorghum diseases
in Europe. This review is thus presented as a
general view of the sorghum disease situation in
southern France with application to other sorghum-growing
regions of Europe. The region of
sorghum production in southern France is probably
representative of the other sorghum-growing
regions of Europe, but particular disease
situations may exist in other areas.
Sorghum in Europe is produced in the south
where a Mediterranean climate prevails. It is
a secondary crop of diminishing importance
throughout the continent, including France,
where approximately half of the European Economic
Community (EEC) grain sorghum is
produced. Production in France has steadily decreased,
from 57 000 ha in 1984 to 39 000 ha in
1987 (EUROSTAT 1987).
1. Plant Pathologist CIP, International Potato Center, PO Box 5969, Lima, Peru.
Although sorghum, a drought-tolerant plant,
is ecologically adapted to the dry Mediterranean
summers, this advantage is now of little importance
to farmers; they find the price subsidies
given to other crops more attractive. Agricultural
areas once used for sorghum are now
being sown to soybean and sunflower.
Sorghum breeders in France list the short
growing season and the lack of early-maturing
materials as the greatest constraints to production.
Diseases are thought to be of minor or no
importance. The minor emphases placed on diseases
may be partly a result of lack of close examination.
Published records of systematic
evaluations of sorghum diseases in Europe were
not found.
If diseases were indeed of major importance,
however, their incidence and effects would have
to be considered in plant improvement programs.
Lack of concern for sorghum pathology,
therefore, probably reflects the relative good
health of the crop in this region. As with sorghum
in the northern USA and in Canada, sorghum
in Europe faces relatively low disease
pressure.
Forbes, G.A. 1992. A short communication on sorghum diseases in Europe. Pages 89-91 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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