About the Book

In India, maize (Zea mays L.) is third important crop after rice and wheat that provides food, feed and fodder and serves as source of basic raw material for the number of industrial products, viz., starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food, sweeteners, cosmetics, bio-fuel, etc. Thus, Maize has attained an important position as the industrial crop, because 83 per cent of its products are used in starch and feed industries. Maize is being cultivated in an area of 8.69 million hectares in India with the production and productivity of 21.81 million tonnes and 2509 kg/ha, respectively. Diseases are one of the major constraints in this crop production. Maize is attacked by as many as 112 diseases in the world posing major constraints in realizing the potential yield of maize. In India, about 35 diseases reported from different locations are predominantly of fungal and bacterial origin. Seedling blights, maydis leaf blight, turcicum leaf blight, post-flowering stalk rots, banded leaf and sheath blight, smuts and ear rots are prevalent throughout the country. Bacterial stalk rot, brown stripe downy mildew and brown spot are reported from northern India whereas downy mildews are confined to peninsular India (Karnataka & Tamil Nadu) and Udaipur region of Rajasthan. Polysora rust is emerging as a potential threat in Karnataka and central Andhra Pradesh. The yield loss of about 13 percent has been recorded due to adverse effect of these diseases. It is imperative that all the stakeholders realize the dangers posed by these diseases and their importance on proper identification ways and management strategies. This compendium is attempted to provide brief account of maize diseases distribution, crop losses, symptomatology, disease cycle and recommended management practices of major diseases of maize in India. It will serve as a hand out to both plant pathologists and crop protection specialists. Information on nutrient deficiencies in maize and their management is also provided. In general, the compendium is written for academicians, agribusiness representatives, extension workers, area crop specialist, agriculture officials of state departments, crop scouts, students, progressive farmers and researchers. We earnestly hope that the aggregate information compiled in this compendium will be of immense practical value to all stakeholders. We would like to extend sincere thanks to all the contributors for whom bringing out of this compendium has become possible. We also wish to record gratitude to Indian Phytopathological Society for publishing the compendium.

Contents

    Introduction (1)

1. Seedling Blights - Jeevan B. (3-5)

2. Maydis Leaf Blight - Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (6-10)

3. Turcicum Leaf Blight - Jeevan B., S.I. Harlapur and Nabakishor Nongmaithem (11-15)

4. Curvularia Leaf Spot - K.S. Hooda and M.K. Khokhar (16-19)

5. Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight - Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (20-24)

6. Brown Spot - M.K. Khokhar, Robin Gogoi and K.S. Hooda (25-28)

7. Polysora Rust - Srabani Debnath and N. Mallikarjuna (29-33)

8. Common Rust - S.I. Harlapur, Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (34-38)

9. Common Smut - Nabakishor Nongmaithem (39-41)

10. Head Smut - S.S. Sharma, Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (42-45)

11. Sorghum Downy Mildew - N. Mallikarjuna (46-49)

12. Rajasthan Downy Mildew - S.S. Sharma, Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (50-53)

13. Maize Leaf Redness – G.P. Rao (54-55)

14. Bacterial Leaf Streak - Harleen Kaur (56-59)

15. Pythium Stalk Rot - M.K. Khokhar and Robin Gogoi (60-64)

16. Fusarium Stalk Rot - M.K. Khokhar and Robin Gogoi (65-68)

17. Charcoal Rot - Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (69-72)

18. Bacterial Stalk Rot - Harleen Kaur (73-76)

19. Aspergillus Ear Rot - K.S. Hooda, Robin Gogoi and M.K. Khokhar (77-80)

20. Maize Cyst Nematode - B.L. Baheti, S.S. Bhati and B.S. Chandrawat (81-83)

21. Nutrient Deficiency Disorder - Smruti R. Padhan, Soumya R. Padhan, Y. Siva Lakshmi and S.L. Jat (84-96)

Annexure

I. Statewise distribution of maize deceases (97)

II. List of label claim fungicides (98-99)