Head Smut

(Sporisorium reilianum)

Credits: Biovision-Infonet

This disease is characterised by the large, dark-brown smut galls that emerge in place of the panicle. The gall is first covered with a whitish membrane, which soon breaks and allows spores to be scattered by the wind.

Plants become infected while in the seedling stage but evidence of infection is not apparent until heading time. The smut gall produces thousands of spores, which become soil-borne and initiate systemic infection of seedlings in subsequent years.

Different races of the fungus exist which may result in a sorghum hybrid being resistant in one area but not another.

What to do:

• Plant resistant hybrids to avoid losses.
• Use certified disease-free seed.
• Rotate with non-cereals.
• Plough deep.