Prevalence of Finger Millet Diseases in Kaberamaido Subcounty, Soroti District, Uganda

Abstract

A survey of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) diseases was conducted in Kaberamaido subcounty, Soroti district, Uganda, in 1984. Three diseases, namely finger millet blast (Pyricularia gris~a), tar spot. (Phyllachora eleusines) and sclerotium wilt (Sclerodum rolsfii) were prevalent on all the cultlvars grown in the area. Tar spot and sclerotium wilt were of little economic significance but neck and head blast infections caused up to 10.8 % loss in seed yield. Of the four common cul ti vars of finger millet grown in the area - Emiroit, Ebaati (late maturity, with large leaves and open fingers), Okwe~ and Ekama (early maturity, with small leaves and closed fingers) - Ebaati was the most susceptible and Ekama the least susceptible to blast.