Lesson 2: Charcoal Rot

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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot
Charcoal rot is a major disease in the dry
sorghum-growing regions. It is particularly
destructive on high-yielding sorghums that mature
during hot and dry weather if the vigorously
growing crop is subjected to moisture stress
during the pre-flowering period. Post-flowering
stress may be substantially increased by the
presence of leaf diseases, droughts, and heavy
application of fertilizers, root and shoot damage
by insects.
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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot

• Yield losses vary, depending on the weather and
  the growth stage of the cultivars at the time of
  infection by the fungi causing this disease.
• In general, charcoal rot becomes conspicuous near
  crop maturity. In some fields, particularly of
  hybrid sorghums, more than 50 of the plants may
  break at the base and lodge.

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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot
The charcoal rot fungi infects roots of plants
growing under adverse environmental conditions,
particularly moisture stress and high
temperature. Infected roots show water-soaked
lesions that turn brown or black (Fig.)
Infected Roots
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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot
Affected stalks are soft or spongy at the base
and tend to lodge. Lodging is the most apparent
symptom of charcoal rot (Fig.).
Sorghum lodging due to Charcoal Rot
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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot
If lodged plant is split open and examined, the
pith of the stalk may be found in various stages
of rotting of the tissues (Fig.).
Disintegration of stalk tissues.
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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot
Management Maintaining soil moisture through
irrigation, if possible, during the post-
flowering period can minimize charcoal rot
infestation. A balanced fertilizer program is
beneficial as with high levels of nitrogen
application with low levels of potassium may lead
to charcoal rot.
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Lesson 2 Charcoal Rot
Management High plant population should be
avoided. Best plant density based on moisture
availability need to adopted. Growing of drought
tolerant, lodging resistant, and nonsenescing
types of sorghum like CSV 17, SPV 462 etc. can
reduce yield losses from charcoal rot
infestations.
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Module 3 Stalk Diseases
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Module 4
Course on Diseases of Sorghum