Abstract
Trials were planted at Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, during 2002 and 2003 with the objective of determining the relationship between sorghum ergot severity and weather factors, and to develop a risk assessment model. Six sorghum hybrids and three male-sterile genotypes were planted every month from January to October. At anthesis initiation, inoculation was conducted using a local isolate of Claviceps africana. Among hybrids, there was a negative relationship between ergot severity and maximum and minimum temperatures, with the highest significant correlation of —0.71 from 7 to 9 days before anthesis. During this period, minimum temperatures above 10°C increased the risk of ergot development, whereas minimum temperatures above 22.5°C prevented ergot development. In male-sterile plants, ergot was negatively related to maximum temperature after anthesis, with ergot being observed at maximum temperatures up to 38°C. Minimum relative humidity showed a positive and significant correlation with ergot severity. Values of minimum relative humidity above 30% during anthesis promoted infection. Surface response regression models were developed for the effects of minimum relative humidity and minimum and maximum temperature during the infection process on ergot severity.
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Montes-García, N., Prom, L.K., Williams-Alanis, H. et al. Effect of temperature and relative humidity on sorghum ergot development in northern Mexico. Australasian Plant Pathology 38, 632–637 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1071/AP09049
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AP09049