The relationship between pre-flowering climatic conditions and sugary disease incidence was quantified in grain and forage sorghum genotypes at two sowing periods (mid November and mid December). The trials were carried out over the 2001/02 and 2002/03 growing seasons, in Lages, Santa Catarina State. Four commercial male-fertile sorghum hybrids (BR 600-forrage, BR 700-grain, BR 701-forage/silage and BR 800-forage) and one male-sterile inbred line (BR 001-A) were evaluated. When each genotype reached the flowering stage, 50 panicles were marked and sprayed with a suspension of Claviceps africana (1,000 spores mL-1). Air temperature, humidity and rainfall were recorded through out the growing cycle. Low temperatures three to four weeks prior to flowering, increased susceptibility. At both sowing periods, average night temperatures lower than 15°C during the critical period of pre-flowering turned the fertile hybrids as susceptible as the male-sterile inbred to ergot infection. The tested hybrids differed in their ability to tolerate pre-flowering cold stress. Seed set in uninoculated heads under pollination bags was also reduced, suggesting that increased susceptibility to sugary disease was the result of low temperature induced sterility.
Sorghum bicolor; Claviceps africana; ergot; hybrid; male-sterility; environment
