ERGOT 0R SUGARY DISEASE OF BAJRA.

Introduction symptom Etiology Disease cycle.


Crop name - Bajra (Pennisetum tyohoides)

Disease Name - Ergot or Sugray Disease 

Casual Disease - claviceps microcephala syn. claviceps fusiformis 

In 1967 to78 the disease outbreak seen in the form of epidemic occurs in newly introduced hybrid Bajra variety. 

Due to presense of sclerotia in grain, becomes harmful to humans and animals it is because of presense of many harmful alkaloids of selerotia.


Symptom- Initially symptom occurs as viscous out from infected florets of pearl millets panicles.

This viscous fluid called as honeydew.

Initially honeydew are cream - coloured then transformed into pink or brown colour. 



It persites for 4 to 6 days. 

In later stage fluid becomes dark and farms dark sticky patches. 

Under severe infection many such spikelets ooze planty of honeydew which trickles along the ear head.

In a sclerotial stage ovaries replaced by compact dark brown sclerotium which projects out of the spikelets in place of grain. 

No seed setting seen in infacted glorets of pearl millets. 


                                                                     ETIOLOGY                                                                              Pathogen produces septate mycelium which produces conidiophores which are closely arranged.

Macroconidia and microconidia are produced in honeydew in small sporangiophore.

Macroconidia are hyaline, unicellular, Fusiform and they germinates by one - three germ tubes which bears secondary and tertiary conidia.

Microconidia are hyaline, unicellular, globose, and germinate by one germ tube . 

Conidia are hyaline one called. 

The sclerotia are elongated to round small and dark grey but white inside.

The germinate and produce asci. 

asci are long and cylindrical having & long fusiform hyaline aseptate ascospores. 

Ascospores germinate and produce Primary and secondary conidia.


DISEASE CYCLE - Fungus attacks ovary and grows by producing masses of hyphee ehich sclerotial body. 

Sclerotia are viable for 6 to 8 months in soil. Primary infection takes place by germination of sclerotia present in seed or soil. 

primary infection may cause by conidia of collateral host. 

Cenchrus ciliaris and and setigerus serve as collateral host. fungus also infects other species of pennisetum. 

Perithecia is produced after germination of sclerotia. Asci and ascospores are produced in perithecia of infected inflorscence of crop. 

Secondary infection are caused by conidia which produced in honeydew and disseminated by insects or wind. 

After infection honeydew produced withhin 4 to 6 days.

claviceps microcephala                                                                       cleviceps fusiformis