Indian Phytopath. 58 (4) : 419-421 (2005) Correlation of meteorological parameters with sorghum grain mold incidence SUNITA J. MAGAR and B.P. KURUNDKAR Department of Plant Pathology, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani 431 402 ABSTRACT : Environmental parameters were correlated with incidence and intensity of grain mold and occurrence of different mold flora on twelve promising sorghum genotypes. These correlations were worked out from 50 percent flowering to crop harvest and from 7 and 15 days before harvesting till harvesting. Results indicated that significant and positive correlation existed between mean temperature, relative humidity, bright sunshine hours and wind speed for incidence and intensity of grain mold when these parameters were considered from 50% flowering to crop harvest. When meteorological parameters considered one and two weeks before harvesting, rainfall and humidity (a.m.) positively and significantly correlated with intensity of grain mold in field. Key words: Meteorological parameters, sorghum grain mold, incidence and intensity Sorghum grain mold affecting seriously the quantity and quality of harvested produce is influenced by environmental conditions prevailing at various stages of grain development (Tarr, 1962; Williams and Rao, 1977 and Indira et al., 1991). It is believed that grain molds may develop in sorghum right from emergence of inflorescence till maturity of grains provided that climatic conditions are suitably moist. However, Siddiqui and Khan (1973), Tripathi (1974) and Koteswara Rao (1986) believed that high humid conditions during grain maturity favour grain mold development. Also sorghum genotypes react differently to various grain molds under a given situation. In this context, present study was conducted to study the effect of various environmental parameters on occurrence of grain mold. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve sorghum genotypes i.e. IS 18758C-618- 2, IS 18523, ICSV 96101, CS 3541, Sepon/78-1, ICSV 95001, IS 30469C-140, SPV 351, ICSV 91008, CSH 9, SPV 104 and IS 8545 were sown in randomised block design with two replications on 18 th of June 2002 at the spacing of 45 x 15 cm 2 . The size of plot is 10.90 x 6 cm 2 . At the time of harvesting each plot was divided into 3 equal parts and harvesting was carried out at physiological maturity, maturity and two weeks after maturity of crop. Grain mold intensity in field and in threshed grains was recorded in 1 to 5 scale as per rating scale given by Mayee and Datar (1985) and incidence and intensity of grain molds in different sorghum genotypes was worked out. Detection of fungi occurring on different sorghum genotypes was carried out by using standard blotter paper technique. Ten sorghum seeds of each genotype harvested at different times were used for detection of fungi. There were two replications for each treatment. Meteorological parameters prevailing from flowering till harvesting of crop were recorded at Meteorological Laboratory, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani. Summation of each meteorological parameters from 50% flowering to harvest, from 15 days before harvesting till harvest and from 7 days before harvesting till harvest were correlated with incidence and intensity of grain molds and occurrence of individual fungal flora. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION It is seen from results depicted in Table 1 that significant and positive correlations existed between