Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
K Vignesh, L Vengadeskumar, S Sanjaygandhi and T Sabesan

Abstract:
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adoptability under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals because it has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. It is affected by several fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. Among these maydis leaf blight caused by the fungus Bipolaris maydis, is a disease that significantly affects maize productivity across the globe causes 40-45% yield loss. A survey was conducted to investigate the incidence and severity of maydis leaf blight incited by B. maydis in fifteen major maize growing areas of Tamil Nadu. The occurrence of wilt disease incidence ranged from 14 % to 45% was noticed. Plant showing typical symptoms were taken from 15 fields and identified based on symptom appearance as well as morphological characteristics. The result of the survey revealed that wide range of infection and severity of leaf blight were occurred in the major maize growing areas in Tamil Nadu. Isolation of the pathogen associated with maydis leaf blight was made from the diseased tissues in leaves of the plant on the Potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Bm7 recorded the maximum blight incidence followed by Bm8 and the minimum blight incidence was recorded in Bm2. The pathogenicity of the fungal pathogen was also proved after artificial inoculation of the maize crop.