Published Date: 1997-07-25 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/PL> Sorghum ergot spreading - Americas
Archive Number: 19970725.1562

SORGHUM ERGOT SPREADING - AMERICAS
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Source: EPPO Reporting Service
97/119 Further spread of Claviceps africana in the Americas

The ergot disease of sorghum was initially restricted to Asia and Africa
but recently spread to other continents: the Americas and Oceania
(Australia) (see EPPO RS 97/031, 97/073). In the Americas, _Claviceps
africana_ was first found in Brazil in mid-1995, by 1996 it was also found
in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela*. By mid-February 1997, the
disease [had] spread to Honduras*, Dominican Republic*, Jamaica*, Puerto
Rico* and Mexico*. In March 1997, _C. africana_ was found for the first
time in Texas, USA*.
The fungus was found on cultivated sorghum and also on _Sorghum halepense_.
Cultivated and wild sorghum species are susceptible to _C. africana_ and it
is likely that other grass plants can be hosts. Under epidemic conditions,
near Tampico (Mexico), low infections were observed on pearl millet
(_Pennisetum glaucum_), but the development of the pathogen appeared
limited. Means of entry of _C. africana_ into the Americas is unknown, but
the pathogen has the potential for dissemination by sorghum seed
contaminated with sclerotia or encrusted by dried honeydew that contain
viable macroconida.
* New records
Source:
Anon. (1997) Rapid spread of ergot of sorghum monitored in several fronts.
Phytopathology News, 31(4), p 59.
Odvody, G. (1997) Ergot of sorghum reported in U.S.
Phytopathology News, 31(5), p 75.
[Note: Dr Pamela K. Anderson, ProMED-mail's phytopathology moderator, is on
extended travel. If anyone can give us an informed comment on the severity
of this threat, for the benefit of our subscribers, we would be happy to
post it - Mod.JW]
........................................................jw
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