Sorghum downy mildew of maize – A review

Corn ranks one of the four principal crops of the world. It has greater adaptability and is grown throughout the world, over a range of climatic conditions. Maize breeding programmes generally focus on yield improvement. However, several diseases are responsible for major economic losses in maize. Sorghum downy mildew is one of the most serious diseases in maize producing areas throughout the world. Although effective chemical measures are available, breeding resistant cultivars is more cost effective and environmentally safe alternative for controlling sorghum downy mildew. Effective breeding methods for producing sorghum downy mildew resistant inbreds and hybrids would depend primarily on the mode of inheritance of resistance or susceptibility to the disease.