STUDIES ON SEED ROT AND SEEDLING BLIGHT OF FORAGE SORGHUM

Abstract

Forage sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) is grown in the temperate, sub-tropical and tropical zones wherever rain fall or irrigation is adequate. In Egypt, forage sorghum is one of the most important summer forage crop: In Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, area of average 5792 feddan is annually grown to forage sorghum*. Forage sorghum is subjected to the attack of different plant diseases in Egypt i.e. downy mildew, leafblight, anthracnose, smut, seed rot and seedling blight. Seed rot and seedling blight are caused by Fusarium moniliforme (Sheld.), Fusarium semitectum (Berk & Rav), F. oxysporum (Schlecht), Aspergillus flavus (Link), Epicoccum nigrum (Link), Alternaria alternata (Fr. Keissler) and Rhizoctonia so/ani (Kuhn). These pathogens play an active role in the deterioration of seed and seedlings. Their influence will extend to human and animal who depend on sorghum in their food or feed. The present work was devoted to study the followings: 1- Survey of seed rot and seedling blight causal organisms in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate.