Abstract
Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely grown cereals in the world. However, in Cameroon, particularly in the Far North Region, yields remain low because of diseases increasing due to farming practices and climate change. This work aimed to characterize Brown Spot and Stalk Rot of corn and evaluate the susceptibility of two maize varieties to Physoderma maydis in field conditions. Two maize varieties, CMS9015, and CMS8704 were evaluated in a randomized block design. Disease symptoms were observed and described using identification keys. Microscopic characteristics of pathogens were performed using a microscope. Incidence, severity, and areas under disease curve progress (AUIPC and AUSiPC) were calculated. Brown spot occurred 3 or 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) at the growing stage in CMS8704 variety first, and stalk rot 7 WAS. Brown spot appeared in leaves and is characterized by oval yellowish spots in the leaf blade and brownish spots in the midrid. Stalk rot infects stem nodes and is characterized by brownish spots, leading to the broken stem. The incidence of brown spot increased with time and environmental conditions (rainfall). The highest incidence of Physoderma Brown Spot was recorded with CMS8704 variety 53.06 % against 51.72 % with CMS9015. Severity was respectively 54.40 % and 47.12 % with CMS8704 and CMS9015. The incidence and severity of stalk rot were almost identical in both varieties. AUIPC of PBS and PSR was higher in CMS9015 than in CMS 8704, 63 DAS. PBS and PSR infect maize production, and both varieties are susceptible to P. maydis.
Highlights
Corn is an annual, monoecious herbaceous plant native to South America (Maybelline et al, 2012)
The highest incidence of Physoderma Brown Spot was recorded with CMS8704 variety 53.06 % against 51.72 % with CMS9015
area under the disease progress curve (AUIPC) of Physoderma Brown Spot (PBS) and PSR was higher in CMS9015 than in CMS 8704, 63 days after sowing (DAS)
Summary
Monoecious herbaceous plant native to South America (Maybelline et al, 2012). In the Far North Region of Cameroon, this deficit is due to poor farming practices by farmers, inability to buy fertilizers, lack of land, biotic constraints (diseases and pests, choice of seed varieties), and abiotic constraints (climate change, scarcity of rainfall, soil poverty) (IRAM/MINADER, 2017). To solve this problem, corn growers are looking for a sustainable alternative by using green and organic fertilizers that promote microbial activity in the soil (Biaou et al, 2017). This work aimed to study Brown Spot and Stalk Rot of corn in Far North Cameroon and evaluate the susceptibility of two varieties of maize (Zea mays) to Physoderma maydis in field conditions
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