Lesson 5: Anthracnose

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Lesson 5 Anthracnose
Sorghum anthracnose disease is prevalent in areas
with hot and humid conditions. Anthracnose
appears on all aerial parts of sorghum plants
leaves, leaf sheaths, stalk, earhead, and
grain. Infestation on leaves is the most common
phase of this disease. In severe infection, this
disease can cause 50 or more reduction in grain
yield.
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Lesson 5 Anthracnose
The symptoms vary with cultivar and the
prevailing weather. The foliar phase may occur
during any growth stage but usually appears on
leaves of 30 to 40 days plants. Typical symptoms
are small, circular, elliptical, or elongated
spots (Fig.).
Anthracnose spots
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Lesson 5 Anthracnose
Under conditions of high humidity or high
rainfall, the spots increase in number and join
together to cover much of the leaf and kill large
portions of the leaf (Fig.). In its severe form,
anthracnose causes premature defoliation, thus
reducing growth and delaying development of
plants or even premature death of plants.
Anthracnose spots
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Lesson 5 Anthracnose
Midrib infection often occurs and is seen as
elongate-elliptical red or purple lesions
(Fig.). If midrib and foliar infection occur
together, leaf damage, defoliation, and reduction
of yield may be greater.
Midrib Infection
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Lesson 5 Anthracnose
Management Clean cultivation, elimination of
weed hosts, removal of crop residues will help in
controlling this disease. A 2-year crop rotation
with crops other than sorghum. Growing resistant
cultivars like SPV 462, CSV 17 etc.
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Module 2 Foliar Diseases
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
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With this, the Module 2Foliar Diseases in
sorghum concludes. If you want to check your
understanding about foliar diseases of sorghum,
please click on Exercise button given
above. The subsequent Modules in this course
deal with other important diseases in sorghum
crop. Click Modules button and select
Module 3
Course on Diseases of Sorghum