Abstract
A description is provided for Ascochyta sorghi. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Sorghum bicolor and wild sorghums. DISEASE: Rough leaf spot of sorghum. On leaves symptoms appear as small circular to oblong light coloured spots with well defined reddish margin. Older lesions become broadly elliptic, greyish to yellow brown or purplish red, reaching 4-9 × 8-14 mm. Lesions often merge with one another to form large irregular necrotic areas up to 12.5 × 2.5 cm and the whole leaves may be killed. The variety of host plant mostly determines whether the leaf spots have a distinct red margin or an indistinct margin (Tarr, 1962; Edmunds & Zummo, 1975). Lesions may also occur on leaf sheaths and sometimes on leaf stalks. The disease appears to be severe on young plants whilst older plants have been reported to be resistant to attack (13, 746). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Africa (Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Zaire); Asia (Burma, India); Europe (Italy); N. America (USA, Alabama, Georgia); USSR. TRANSMISSION: Infection has been claimed to be spread by air-borne conidia in wet weather or heavy dews and also by insects (Singh et al., 1951; Tarr, 1962; Edmunds & Zummo, 1975). The fungus has been reported to be carried over on crop residues of sorghum and debris in the soil (Singh et al., 1951; Edmunds & Zummo, 1975).