Millet diseases have entered the critical period for control, and prevention and control measures must be taken promptly now.

Recently, many farmers have reported severe millet diseases. Through our investigation, we found that most millet fields have mixed infections of several diseases, mainly a combination of millet gray leaf spot, leaf spot and blast, and the affected area is widespread. Farmers are reminded to take timely control measures.

1. Occurrence: The severity of disease varies among different millet varieties. According to the investigation, red millet and common millet varieties are more severely affected, while Zhangzagu No. 8 is less affected.

2. Symptoms: The disease infects the middle and lower leaves of millet plants, and no lesions were found on newly emerged leaves. The middle and lower leaves are densely covered with lesions. The lesions are initially small brown spots, then become oval or spindle-shaped, with a white center and reddish-brown edges. Some lesions also have a yellow halo.

3. Causes of the disease: In Julu County, there were many cloudy and rainy days in July and August. According to statistics from the county meteorological bureau, there were 12 cloudy and rainy days in July, and since the beginning of August it has also been basically cloudy and rainy, with high air humidity. Millet gray leaf spot, leaf spot and blast are prone to occur in rainy seasons and when air humidity is high, so millet diseases this year are more severe than in previous years.

4. Control measures: Spray 70% thiophanate-methyl or 50% carbendazim to control gray leaf spot and leaf spot, and spray 6% kasugamycin wettable powder to control millet blast. In view of the mixed occurrence of these three diseases this year, 70% thiophanate-methyl + potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be sprayed for combined control.