Production of sclerotia: Sclerotia are not frequently produced in infected sorghum in North America. They were documented in crops grown in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico and the northern High Plains of Texas in the fall of 1997. In Celaya, 10-20% of sphacelia differentiated into sclerotia. They were also found in Weslaco, Texas and Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (these localities are about 20 miles apart) in January, 2000, forming on crops that were planted in the fall of 1999. In Rio Bravo, 5% of sphacelia differentiated into sclerotia. Sclerotia appear to form with cooler temperatures and dry weather conditions, particularly low relative humidity. Saprophytic fungi on the infected panicle, including Cerebella sp., are relatively sparse under these conditions.

Source: G.N. Odvody, T. Isakeit, N. Montes, J. Narro-Sanchez, and H. Kaufman. Occurrence of Sorghum Ergot in Mexico and Texas in 1998. Abstract from Proceedings of 21st Biennial Grain Sorghum Research & Utilization Conference, Tucson, AZ Feb. 21-23, 1999.

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