Evaluation of Elite Sorghum Accessions for Multiple Disease Resistance

Several plant diseases reduce grain and fodder yields of sorghum (Sorg/jum bicolor) and its stover quality (Bandyopadhyay et al. 2001). Participatory rural appraisal studies In India by Rama Devi et al. (2000) Indicated that sale of crop residues to perl-urban milk producers accounted for approximately 50% of the income from sorghum cropping In rural areas of the Deccan Plateau of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, and diseased residues command much lower price In the fodder market. Adverse effects of foliar and panicle diseases on quality and quantity of sorghum grain, fodder and residues have recently been reported (Bandyopadhyay et al. 2000, 2001). Most sorghum diseases can be effectively managed through host-plant resistance. The objective of this study was to Identify resistance to multiple diseases in the selected agronomic elite landrace accessions and breeding lines of sorghum. In this article we report both agronomic features and multiple disease resistance of some of the accessions for their possible use in resistance breeding program

Effect of Foliar Fungicides on Soybean Yield

Use of fungicides prior to 2004 was not common in soybean production in Iowa and much of the north central region, except for soybean seed production. Use of fungicides to control soybean foliar diseases has been a hot topic. Survey of the literature shows a disagreement among researchers, between university extension recommendations and industry application

Management of Urd Bean Leaf Crinkle Virus in Urd Bean (Vigna Mungo L. Hepper)

Six plant extracts viz , Mirabtlis jalapa, Carthamus roseus. Datura metal, Bougainvitlea spectabilis, Boerhaavia diffusa and Azadirachta indica recorded maximum reduction in the incidence of urd bean leaf crinkle virus (ULCV) in urd bean crops at field level Among the antiphytovirat chemicals tested, DHT reduced the transmission to the maximum extent and increased the incubation period of virus in the urd bean plant Fresh buttermilk was significantly superior to fermented buttermilk in reducing the disease spread and increasing the incubation period of the virus in the plant. Casein was found effective in reducing the per cent transmission and increased the incubation period of the virus. Raising barrier crops viz maize, sorghum and pearl millet were equally effective in reducing the spread of the disease in field Spraying of DHT at two intervals. 7 and 22 DAS was found effective in reducing the disease spread when compared with Thuja, buttermilk, ivf jalapa and neem oil

Effect of Seed Treatment and Foliar Fungicides on Soybean White Mold and Yield Response

Soybean white mold has been a production problem for soybean producers since early 1990. Sclerotia germinate and produce apothecia, and apothecia produce ascospores. These spores attack soybean plants at flowering. In addition, sclerotia can germinate and colonize soybean plants. Therefore, seed treatment and or foliar application may help reduce incidence and severities and yield loss due to white mold. In Iowa, for the first time in the 2009 growing season, we observed wide spread of both the soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) and white mold (WM). Sporadically, the simultaneous occurrence of SDS and WM had only been observed once in 2007. Many growers experienced the occurrence of SDS and WM on the same farm, and some in the same field. This is complicating management strategies. Objectives of these studies were to assess effects of seed treatment and foliar spray on soybean white mold and yield response at the ISU Northeast Research Farm, Nashua, Iowa

Maize Stripe Virus: A Disease of Sorghum Emerging in South India

During the growing season several foliar diseases of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) affect grain and stover yields, stover quality and digestibility of the residues. While It Is documented that foliar diseases of sorghum affect yields, no data were found In the literature on the effects of foliar diseases on crop residue yield and quality or the economic consequences for rural producers. Recently Rama Devi et al. (2000) Indicated that diseased residues command much lower prices In the fodder market. Preliminary studies conducted at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India Indicated that sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) and maize stripe virus (MStV), a tenuivirus, reduce crop residue yield, quality and digestibility. Extensive on-farm surveys were conducted at various crop growth stages In India during 1999-2001 mainly to understand prevalence of foliar diseases, farmers' perceptions on sorghum diseases, feeding strategies and cropping pattern. In this article, we report the incidence and severity of MStV in farmers' fields and its likely effects on crop productivity based on the frequency of occurrence of MStV in Inoculated and control plots

Effect of environmental factors during seed development and maturation on seed quality in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on physiological characteristics of seeds of sorghum genotypes viz., CO 24, CO 25, CO 26 and JH 35 during seed development and maturation. In the present study, a steady decline in moisture content of the seed was observed. Length and width of seed increased rapidly between seven to 35 days after 50 per cent flowering. A steep increase in the dry weight of seed was registered between 14 and 35 days after 50 per cent flowering, beyond that the increase was gradual. Water absorption per cent declined from 16.5 to 12.0 per cent between 7 to 28 days and increasing steadily beyond 42 days (22.1 per cent) after 50 per cent flowering. The germination potential of seeds improved with seed development and maturity. The root length, shoot length, dry weight of seedling, field emergence, seed recovery, seed yield and vigour index were highest in seeds harvested at 35 and 42 days after 50 per cent flowering. Seed vigour as estimated through stress tests viz., soaking seeds in ammonium chloride and D-manitol and accelerating ageing and exhaustion tests revealed the superiority of seeds having maximum germinability, vigour and viability at 35 and 42 days after 50 per cent flowering. These stages respectively correspond to physiological and harvestable maturity

Studies on seed colouring in redgram, blackgram and bengalgram

The investigations on the effect of seed colouring of redgram, blackgram and bengalgram seeds encompassing 25 dyes were conducted to identify non-deleterious and deleterious dyes based on their effect on seed quality. The dyes namely Rhodamine-B, Fuchsine and Titan yellow for redgram, Rhodamine-B, Fuchsine and Phenol red and Rhodamine-B, Crystal violet, Titan yellow for bengalgram were found to be the best dyes for seen colouring at 0.75% concentration. In this paper we discuss developing colour standards for redgram, blackgram and bengalgram seeds and their resultant implications for Indian seed industry