Ergot (sugary disease)
Sticky, sweet honeydew from the florets, then hard dark ergot bodies replacing the grain — a toxic-grain disease of the flowering head.
- Pathogen
- Fungus (Claviceps)
- Spreads by
- Insects & wind from honeydew; sclerotia in seed/soil
- Favoured by
- Cool, humid, wet weather at flowering
- Main risk
- Toxic ergot bodies in grain; yield loss
Overview
Ergot, also called sugary disease, is a fungal disease (Claviceps) of the flowering heads of pearl millet (bajra), sorghum and other cereals. The fungus infects the open florets at flowering. Its first, diagnostic sign is the oozing of a sticky, sweet, light "honeydew" from the affected florets, which often attracts insects and turns dark; later the fungus replaces the grain with a hard, dark brown to black ergot body (sclerotium) that protrudes from the head in place of a seed.
Ergot cuts grain yield, but its bigger concern is safety: the ergot bodies (sclerotia) contain toxic alkaloids, so grain contaminated with them is hazardous to people and livestock and can be rejected. It is favoured by cool, humid, cloudy, wet weather during flowering, which prolongs the susceptible open-floret stage. It carries over as sclerotia in soil, seed and debris. Management combines resistant hybrids, timely sowing to escape wet flowering, clean seed, sclerotia removal, and a protective fungicide at flowering in a risky season.
How to identify it
- A sticky, sweet, light "honeydew" oozing from the florets at flowering — the first sign, often attracting insects and darkening.
- Grains replaced by hard, dark brown to black ergot bodies (sclerotia) protruding from the head.
- Reduced grain set on affected heads and contamination of the harvested grain with ergot bodies.
- Worst after cool, humid, cloudy, wet weather during the flowering stage.
What causes it and when
- The fungus Claviceps, which infects the open florets at flowering.
- The sweet honeydew spreads spores via insects and splashing; the fungus then forms hard sclerotia in place of grain.
- Favoured by cool, humid, cloudy, wet weather that prolongs flowering and floret opening.
- Carries over as sclerotia in the soil, seed and debris to infect the next crop.
Cultural & organic control
- Grow resistant/tolerant hybrids and sow at the recommended time so flowering escapes the cool, wet window.
- Use clean seed free of sclerotia (float-and-remove sclerotia from seed in salt water where advised) and treat the seed.
- Rogue affected heads and remove/destroy sclerotia and debris; rotate with non-host crops.
- Avoid staggered/late sowings that stretch flowering into humid weather.
Chemical control
- Spray a CIB&RC-registered fungicide protectively at flowering (ear-emergence) when cool, wet weather makes ergot likely.
- Time the spray to the flowering window — a spray after ergot bodies form does not help.
- Combine with clean seed and sowing-time management; observe the pre-harvest interval.
- Confirm the current product, dose and timing for your crop with your local KVK.
Prevent it coming back
- Use resistant hybrids, timely sowing and clean, sclerotia-free treated seed.
- Remove and destroy sclerotia and affected heads, and rotate to run down soil-borne bodies.
- Plan a protective flowering-stage spray in seasons/zones where cool, wet flowering is likely.
Crops most at risk
Where this problem is called out in our crop guides — open a crop for the full package of practices.
Frequently asked questions
My bajra/sorghum heads are oozing sticky sweet liquid and have hard dark bodies instead of grain. What is it?
That sticky, sweet honeydew from the florets, followed by hard dark brown-to-black bodies replacing the grain, is ergot (sugary disease), caused by Claviceps. It infects at flowering in cool, wet weather. Beyond yield loss, the ergot bodies are toxic, so keep them out of grain and feed. Grow a resistant hybrid, sow on time to dodge wet flowering, use clean seed, remove sclerotia, and spray protectively at flowering in a risky season.
Is ergot-contaminated grain dangerous?
Yes — the hard ergot bodies (sclerotia) contain toxic alkaloids that are harmful to both people and livestock if the contaminated grain is eaten, and such grain can be downgraded or rejected. So ergot is not only a yield problem; contaminated grain and fodder should be cleaned to remove the ergot bodies (they can often be floated off in salt water) and heavily affected lots kept out of food and feed. Preventing infection at flowering is the safest approach.
When should I spray for ergot?
At flowering (ear-emergence) — protectively, before or as the florets open, especially when cool, humid, wet weather makes ergot likely. That is the only susceptible window; a fungicide applied after the honeydew and hard ergot bodies have formed does not help. Combine the flowering spray with a resistant hybrid, timely sowing to avoid wet flowering, and clean sclerotia-free seed. Confirm the product and timing with your KVK.
Symptoms and control measures follow ICAR, KVK and state agricultural-university package-of-practices; any named chemical is a registered use. Always read the product label and confirm the dose for your crop and zone. editorial policy.