Fusarium Grain Mold: The Major Component of Grain Mold Disease Complex in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Abstract

Sorghum grain mold, particularly Fusarium and Curvularia grain mold, are important on improved, short- and medium-duration sorghum cultivars worldwide. There is hardly any literature that deals with Fusarium grain mold as a component of sorghum grain mold disease complex in detail. This review summarizes many aspects related to Fusarium grain mold: typical symptoms, causal organisms in relation to mold development phases, colonization processes, nature of damage and its significance on yield and quality, and management options. The review also attempts to shortlist probable mechanisms that might be useful for developing resistance against early infection events. There are three major and proven pathogenic species of Fusarium (F. andiyazi, F. proliferatum and F. thapsinum) that are capable of infecting sorghum flower. Others are predominantly saprophytes. Some strains of these species are highly toxigenic and responsible for Fusarial-toxicoses in human beings, animals and poultry birds. There is necessity to identify resistance against Fusarium grain mold in general and toxigenic strains in particular and incorporate the resistance in new varieties and hybrids of sorghum.