Monthly Archives: February 2020

(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 […]

(Sporisorium sorghi) Credits: Biovision-Infonet It attacks all groups of sorghum including Sudan-grass and Johnson grass. Galls formed by loose kernel smut are long and pointed. The thin membrane covering the galls usually breaks soon after galls reach full size. The dark-brown spores contained in the galls are wind-blown away leaving a long, dark pointed, curved […]

(Sporisorium sorghi) Credits: Biovision-Infonet The disease destroys all kernels in a head and replaces them with a cone-shaped gall or may affect only portions of a panicle. At harvest time, these galls are broken and spores contaminate the outer surface of other kernels. What to do: Use of certified disease-free seed. Plant resistant hybrids.

Credits: Biovision-Infonet Maize dwarf mosaic is a virus disease that occurs over all the sorghum producing areas. Its ability to cause damage is dependent on the presence of an over-seasoning virus host (mainly Johnson grass), aphid populations to facilitate virus transmission and the susceptibility of the varieties being grown. Affected plants have mottled (light green […]

(Colletotrichum graminicola) Credits: Biovision-Infonet The anthracnose fungus damages foliage and stems of grain sorghum. On susceptible hybrids, the stem holding the head (peduncle) becomes infected and a brown sunken area with distinct margins develops. When infected stems are cut lengthwise with a knife, one can see that the fungus has penetrated the soft pith tissue […]