Biochemical characterization of recently identified grain mold resistant sorghum lines

Grain mold, the most important and widespread disease of sorghum worldwide, is a major constraint to sorghum productivity. Production losses due to this disease range from 30 to 100% depending on cultivars, growing season and prevailing weather conditions during flowering to harvesting (Singh and Bandyopadhyay, 2000). Grain mold can be broadly defined as preharvest grain deterioration caused by several fungal species interacting parasitically and/or saprophytically with developing grain. Fungi belonging to more than 40 genera are associated with molded grains. Among them Fusarium species, Curvularia lunata and Alterneria alternata are major pathogens of worldwide significance. Some species of Fusarium (F andiyagi, F. proliferatum, F. thapsinum, E sacchari and E verticillioides) involved in grain mold complex produce mycotoxins, such as fumonisins, moniliformis trichothecenes, and fusaproliferin (Leslie ei al. 2005). These toxins are harmful to human- and animal-health and also reduce the quality and marketability of grains as food/feed sources (Thakur et al. 2006). The disease is particularly important on improved, short- and medium-duration sorghum cultivars that mature during the rainy season in humid, tropical and sub-tropical climates