SORGHUM DOWNY MILDEW (SCLEROSPORA SORGHI) OF MAIZE IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Abstract

Rajasthan is the third most important maize growing state of India. About 751 thousand tons of maize grain is produced from about 775 thousand hectares. Due to adoption of high yielding hybrids and composites, the intensity of some diseases has increased and sorghum downy mildew (SDM), caused by Sclerospora sorghi Weston & Uppal, often causes considerable loss. The disease was first observed in Northern India in 1968 at the Regional Station of Agricultural Research, Vallabhnagar (Udaipur). Since then its incidence has been noticed on a wide scale and it has became a real threat to maize production in many maize growing areas of Rajasthan State. In some fields as high as 50% incidence of SDM has been recorded. Ganga 5, a recommended hybrid for Rajasthan, has been found to be highly susceptible.