What is one recommended management practice for controlling foliage diseases in grain sorghum?

Planting disease-free seed is a crucial management practice for controlling foliage diseases in grain sorghum. Using healthy, disease-free seeds helps to ensure that the plants have a strong start and minimizes the risk of introducing pathogens that can lead to foliage diseases. This practice is foundational in disease management because it eliminates one of the primary sources of infection that can affect the crop throughout its growing season.

Additionally, starting with disease-free seed provides a robust defense against various pathogens that could compromise plant health, ultimately leading to healthy yields and reducing the need for more intensive management strategies later in the growing cycle. Other methods, such as adjusting irrigation practices or utilizing chemical pesticides, are often used as supplementary measures, but they cannot replace the significance of starting with clean seed stock.