Control of ergot in pearl millet through pollen management*

SUMMARY Four pearl millet F, hybrids, ICH‐118, ICH‐220, BJ‐104, and ICH‐206, which are highly susceptible to ergot, were grown one/season in isolation plots and in a demonstration plot during the four rainy seasons of 1978‐81, respectively, alone and mixed with an early flowering variety SC‐2(M)5‐4, which is less susceptible to ergot (less than 10% severity) to test the hypothesis that increased pollen availability at the early stages of flowering in hybrids protects the hybrids from ergot infection. In 1978, the hybrid was grown with the pollen donor in a seed mixture (4 parts hybrid and 1 part pollen donor) and in other years one row of the pollen donor was planted between two, four, or eight rows of the hybrid. Ergot inoculations were made 3–4 times at protogyny flowering stage of the hybrids. Significant reductions in ergot infection and considerable increase in grain yields occurred in the hybrids when grown with the pollen donor line. The possible application of this control measure in farmers' fields is discussed.