Ephelis oryzae was identified on a single diseased panicle
of pearl millet grown next to foxtail millet [Setaria italica
(L.) Beauv.] India in 1975. Florets in the lower half of the affected
panicle were greyish and glued and pressed toward the rachis.
Spores were acicular hyaline and measured 15-24 × 1.4-1.8
µm with an average length of 19.26 µm, which is very
close to the spore size of E. oryzae on S. italica.
This disease was an atypical occurrence, which does not appear
to have been observed again. E. oryzae has also been reported
on Pennisetum hohenackeri and P. alopecuroides (Reddy and Lucy Channamma 1976). Balansia
is the teleomorph of Ephelis.Balansia claviceps
Speg. has been cited as a pathogen of pearl millet in Senegal
by Ramakrishnan (1971); however, the
source citation referred to in that publication is incorrect and
thus is unavailable for examination. Other reported hosts include
Echinochloa crus-galli,Setaria italica,Isachne
elegans, and Eragrostis tenuifolia (Venkatakrishniah
1952).
Printable Version
E-mail this page
