MAIZE STALK ROT

DISEASE OF FIELD CROPS

1. Maize Post flowering stalk rot Cephalosporium wilt (Black bundle disease and late wilt) Cephalosporium acremonium/cephalosporium maydis Economic importance : In Andhra Pradesh, it is severe in the districts of Warangal, Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Adilabad .

2. P o s t f l o w e r i n g s t a l k r o o t

3. S y m p toms : Infection caused by C. acremonium becomes apparent when maize has reached the dough stage. One of the first symptoms is the purpling of leaves and stalks. The most through several internodes. Barren plants, excessive tillering and multiple ears are the other diagnostic symtoms. Symptoms caused by C. maydis appear only after flowering stage and plants start wilting basipetally giving a dull green appearance of the leaves which later dry up. The lower internode turns discoloured, become reddish brown, shrunken and soft, and subsequently

4. Pathogen Conidiophores swollen or slender; conidia are one celled, hyaline and are produced successively at the tip and usually embedded in a slimy drop. Disease cycle Both the pathogens survive in soil, plant debris and seed. Primary infection is by seed Secondary infection i s by wind. Favourable Conditions High temperature and low soil moisture (drought) favour the disease.

5. Management ¾ Crop sanitation ¾ Crop rotation ¾ Avoid water stress at flowering ¾ Seed treatment with Thiram or captan@3g/kg seed ¾ Grow resistant varieties like DHM-103, DHM 105, Hi-Starch and Ganga Safed-2.