Surveillance of major maize diseases and their distribution scenario in different agroclimatic zones of India

Abstract

The maize is third most significant cereal crop after rice and wheat. To know changes in the pattern of disease distribution under global climate change, hence surveying is a crucial activity. The five maize-growing zones of India viz. Northern Hill Zone (NHZ), North West Plain Zone (NWPZ), North East Plain Zone (NEPZ), Peninsular Zone (PZ), and Central Western Zone (CWZ) were surveyed from 2013 to 2018 for major maize diseases. Two to three talukas were chosen in each district for the roaming survey, two to three villages per taluka were chosen, and three fields on either side of the road were chosen at random in each hamlet. In four zones (NHZ, NWPZ, NEPZ, and PZ), the maydis leaf blight severity was high (67.7%) in NEPZ. Further, NHZ showed the highest severity of turcicum leaf blight (55.5%) and banded leaf and sheath blight (77.7%). Moreover, Curvularia leaf spot prevalence (53.3%) and post flowering stalk rot (74%) was highest in CWZ, and bacterial stalk rot in NWPZ (56%). PZ was the only region where sorghum downy mildew was common. In India, a significant maize disease is now being assessed and banded leaf and sheath blight, maydis leaf blight, Turcicum leaf blight, and others were the most prevalent diseases. This study will help to develop management strategies, identify the races of the pathogens, and recommend the resistant varieties.