Finger Millet Smut: Melanopsichium eleusinis
Symptom:
- The disease appears only at the time of grain setting
- The smutted grains scattered randomly in the ear head
- The affected grains gets converted into gall like bodies which are bigger than normal grains
- Greenish swollen grains appear in the initial stages
- The greenish sorus turns to pinkish green and finally turn to dirty black colour.
Identification of pathogen:
- Spores are globose in shape and 7 to 11 microns in diameter
- The epispore is densely pitted and has a rough surface
- The spores germinate readily in water, producing septatepromycelia
- Sporidia are formed on these both terminally and laterally
Managment:
- Use resistant varieties
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal.
