JOURNAL OF AfflfflLTlAL RESEARCH 
Vol. XXVI Washington, D. C., October 27, 1923 No. 4 
A BACTERIAL STRIPE DISEASE OF PROSO MILLET 1 
By Charlotte Elliott 
Assistant Pathologist , Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Bureau of Plant Industry , United 
States Department of Agriculture 
INTRODUCTION 
Proso or broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is the common 
millet of the Old World (4): 2 Especially in India, Russia, and China 
it is an important crop for human food. From these countries, principally 
Russia, a large number of different varieties have been introduced into 
the United States and tested experimentally, and about a dozen varieties 
are now grown to some extent in the northern Great Plains States. 
Although proso is easily injured by frost and grows well only with 
moderately high temperatures, the length of time from seeding to 
maturity—50 to 90 days—is comparatively short and makes this gram of 
value as a supplementary or catch crop. It is grown to a considerable 
extent in the drier parts of Europe and Asia, and in our Great Plains 
States sometimes produces a larger yield in dry seasons than other small 
grains. 
The leaves and stems of proso are covered with hairs which make it 
undesirable for hay. The different varieties grow from i^ to 3 feet 
high and are otherwise distinguished by type of panicle, color of seed 
and chaff, and time of maturity. Proso (Panicum milixiceum L.) differs 
from the more common foxtail millets (Chaetochloa italica (L.) Scrib.) 
in having more open branching panicles somewhat resembling those of 
the oat inflorescence. The seed is larger and makes better feed. While 
the foxtail millets are grown especially for hay, the prosos are grown for 
the seed which is fed to hogs, poultry, and other live stock. 
|f Early Fortune is one of the leading varieties of proso and has been 
grown in the United States for many years. It grows only 1 % to 2 feet 
high and matures very early. Some of the other varieties mentioned 
in this paper (Black Voronezh, Hansen’s White Siberian, Tambov, 
Turghai) have been introduced from Russia since 1897 and are grown to 
some extent at the experiment stations of the Mississippi Valley. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE 
The first known observation of a bacterial disease on proso was made 
at the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, at Brookings, 
in August, 1917, by Dr. A. G. Johnson. He described the lesions on 
Hansen's White Siberian as characteristic water-soaked to brown stripes 
1 Accepted for publication May a, 1923. This work was done in cooperation with the Office of Cereal 
Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S ; Department of Agriculture. 
* Reference is made by number (italic) to “Literature cited,” p. 159. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Washington, D. C. 
ago. 
(ISI) 
60376—23-1 
Vol. XXVI, No. 4 
Oct. 27, 1923 
Key No. G-332 
