INFLUENCE OF PLANTING DEPTHS ON THE INCIDENCE OF SORGHUM HEAD SMUT, CAUSED BY Sporisorium reilianum

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Texas A&M Experiment Station in Beeville, TX, to determine the effect of planting depths on the incidence of sorghum head smut.  In both years, the incidence of head smut decreased with planting depth.  In year 1, no significant difference in head smut incidence was noted in the different planting depths; whereas, in year 2, the number of smutted plants was two-fold and three-fold higher at 6 cm planting depth than at the 15 cm and 22 cm planting depths.  The study suggests that planting depths greater than 6 cm could be used as an alternative to minimize the impact of sorghum head smut in the absence of other control methods.