Foliage Diseases Caused by Fungi: A number of fungal organisms
cause foliage infection and may become severe under certain conditions.
Occurrence has seldom been consistent or damaging enough to warrant the
development of specific control practices. No fungicides have been cleared for
use on sorghum foliage. Hybrids vary in their susceptibility to these
diseases and resistance is available if their occurrence becomes a problem.
Name Pathogen Symptom
Leaf Exserohilum turcicum Large elongated spots with
Blight gray centers and tan-to-
reddish borders.
Target Bipolaris sorghicola Round-to-elliptical spots
leaf spot with reddish purple centers
and tan margins.
Anthracnose Colletotrichum graminicola Elliptical-shaped spots that
are 1/8"-7/8" in diameter.
Tan-to-red with distinct
margins.
Gray Cercospora sorghi Dark purple spots having a
leaf spot grayish cast when pathoggen is
producing spores. Elongate to
round, 1/4" and larger.
Zonate Gleocercospora sorghi Large, irregular-shaped spots
leaf spot having a bullseye appearance.
Rough Ascochyta sorghina Grayish spots that are rough to
leaf spot the touch because of raised
black fruiting bodies.
Sooty stripe Ramulispora sorghi Elongate spots having a sooty
appearance because of sclerotia.
