Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

Grain Yield Losses Due to Charcoal Rot of Sorghum Infected By Macrophomina Phaseolina

Mrs. Manjeet Arora,Mr. Umesh Dhurwe

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench commonly known as "Jowar" is the most important Rabi and Kharif crop of India belonging to the family "Poaceae". It is among one of the four major cereal crop of the world, the other three being wheat, rice and maize. ). The five largest Sorghum producing countries in the World are the United States (25%), India (21.5%), Mexico (11%), China (9%) and Nigeria (7%). These countries accounts for 73% of World production. Sorghum is mainly cultivated in the states Maharastra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chennai, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Rajasthan Sorghum is grown in an area of about 556'000 hectares. It is being cultivated as rainy season crop (Kharif, June to October). The data on grain yield losses clearly exhibit the economic importance of the disease. Improved high yield cultivar's succumbed to be susceptible to stalk rot, with 100% lodging in severe cases (Anahosur and Patil 1983; Mughoho and Pande 1983; Choudhari et.al. 1987; Seetharam et.al. 1987; Bramel , Cox et al. 1989; Pedgaonkar and Mayee 1990; Hiremath and Palakshappa, 1994 and Narayan Rao et al. 1997- 1998). Looking to the paucity of the work an attempt has been made