The Biology and Control of Sorghum Diseases

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is among the most important cereal crops in the world. It is a source of animal feed and fodder, traditional and processed foods and beverages, and an advanced biofuel. Biotic and abiotic stressors reduce global productivity of the sorghum crop. Among the biotic stressors, fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and parasitic plants cause diseases that compromise sorghum yield and quality. As a result, this review seeks to provide a framework to appreciate the causal organisms of the various sorghum diseases. Because fungi cause the bulk of the diseases, three disease classes are discussed for this pathogen group. These include (i) seedling, stalk, and root diseases, (ii) foliar diseases, and (iii) panicle and grain diseases. Throughout, integrated pest management strategies that emphasize reduced pathogen pressure, optimized plant growth conditions, and the utilization of disease resistance (or tolerance) are highlighted. To move forward in our understanding, each disease class or pathogen group discussion includes a summary of broad challenges for future work as perceived by the authors.