RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Priorities for Crop Protection Research in Pearl Millet
Diseases
Ergot
Downy Mildew
• Intensify host-plant resistance work.
• Conduct basic research on resistance mechanisms.
• Explore possible downy mildew variability
between Africa and Asia.
• Global pathogen variability studies should continue
at the University of Reading.
• Establish an African multilocational network for
disease resistance screening.
• The downy mildew nursery inoculation technique
using sporangial and oospore inoculation
with both infector and indicator rows seems to be
effective, but there are aspects which should be
improved individually according to regional requirements.
• There is a need to better understand the biology
of the pathogen, including oospore germination
and population dynamics.
• Studies of seed treatment using appropriate
chemicals should be continued. Systemic fungicides
should be used cautiously because the effectiveness
of such fungicides could break down
rapidly.
Smut
• Continue research on host-plant resistance.
• There is no need to modify the boot inoculation
technique. It should be continued. Materials with
adequate resistance are available in breeding
programs.
• Resistance mechanisms to smut should be studied.
• Continue breeding for ergot resistance.
• Exploit the possibility to select for ergot resistance
based on flowering events, including shorter
protogyny.
• Study the biology, genetics, and epidemiology of
the ergot pathogen.
Striga
• Striga research in West Africa needs to be intensified,
including screening and evaluation
techniques.
Rust
• Intensify research on host-plant resistance.
• Clarify the taxonomy of the rust pathogen.
• More information is needed about the epidemiology
of rust in Asia and southern Africa.
• Screening and evaluation techniques need to be
standardized.
Screening
• The relative importance of pearl millet diseases in
southern and East Africa should be examined
and catalogued. Research priorities are suggested
for the Indian subcontinent and West Africa
(Table 1).
Management
• Integrated management approaches to control
the various diseases of pearl millet, including
Striga, should be explored.
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