Maize diseases and approaches to their management in India

Abstract

Abstract In India the area of land given to maize ranks fifth after rice, wheat, sorghum and pearl millet. In grain production maize holds fourth position over pearl millet. Of the 61 diseases of maize recorded so far, 15 and one nematode problem, are considered to constitute the major constraints limiting production. The major diseases are: four foliar diseases, two pre‐flowering and three post‐flowering stalk rots, four downy mildews and two sheath diseases. Information on ear, cob and kernel rots, smut and virus diseases is presented. An account of post‐harvest microbial problems is given. Four major approaches of disease management in the Indian context are outlined and the most appropriate one is considered to be host resistance. Adoption of this approach has yielded promising results for five major disease groups. It is pointed out that, so far, among the materials released which are resistant to one disease, or one set of diseases, most turn out to be susceptible to another set of diseases. The dev...