Occurrence of maize lethal necrosis in Ecuador: a disease without boundaries?

Maize plants displaying severe mosaic, chlorosis and, in some cases, necrosis were observed in two provinces of Ecuador. Shotgun sequencing of cDNA obtained from double-stranded RNA extracted from symptomatic samples revealed the presence of Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV), two components of maize lethal necrosis. In 2015, a survey conducted in Los Ríos, Manabí and Guayas, major maize production areas in the country, showed that the two viruses were present in a significant number of plants. Mixed infections were detected and associated with severe symptoms. MCMV was also detected in two hybrid seed lots, a significant finding for the epidemiology of the disease in Ecuador. The report of maize lethal necrosis, today the most significant virus disease of maize, in Ecuador is of great concern for producers in the South American continent because of the potential of an epidemic as that observed in east Africa in recent years.     

Weed and fertility management using maize/soyabean intercropping in the north‐western Himalayas

Abstract

In a field experiment conducted on a moderately fertile silty clay loam soil in the north‐western Himalayas, growing one or two rows of soyabean (Glycine max L.) as an intercrop in maize (Zea mays L.) reduced weed numbers and weights significantly and increased maize yields. Sowing two rows of soyabean had a better effect than one row, with maize at a constant sowing density. The maize equivalent yield increased significantly with intercropping in the ratio 1:2 (maize:soyabean rows) as compared to maize alone or maize + soyabean in alternate rows, when all these trials were supplied with the full recommended amount of fertilizer. The maize yield in trials with half the recommended fertilizer amount in the intercropped system was similar to that of maize alone supplied with the full fertilizer dose. The weeds were effectively controlled and yields of maize and soyabean were increased with pre‐emergence application of alachlor at the rate of 2.5 kg a.i./ha or with three hand weedings.     

Efficacy and dose–response relationship in biocontrol of Fusarium disease in maize by Streptomyces spp.

Two isolates of Streptomyces spp. DAUFPE 11470 and DAUFPE 14632 were evaluated to determine the antagonist–pathogen inoculum concentration relationship under greenhouse conditions. Pathogen and antagonist concentration, significantly (P < 0.05) affected development of Fusarium disease in maize with a significant interaction between pathogen and antagonist concentration. Dose–response relationship also differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the two isolates, but both isolates demonstrated effective control of Fusarium disease, regardless of pathogen concentration. The isolate DAUFPE 11470 provided the most effective control. The lowest value for disease incidence occurred at low pathogen (10³ chlamydospore g⁻¹ soil) and high antagonist concentration (10⁶ cfu ml⁻¹) for both isolates. The disease incidence for control plants ranged from 19% to 76%. However, in relation to control the lowest disease reduction occurred at low pathogen (10³ chlamydospore g⁻¹ soil) and high antagonist concentrations (10⁶ cfu ml⁻¹). These reductions were 10.6% and 13% for DAUFPE 14632 and DAUFPE 11470, respectively. The highest disease reductions, in relation to control plants, occurred at high pathogen (10⁶ chlamydospore g⁻¹ soil) and antagonist (10⁶ cfu ml⁻¹) concentrations for both isolates. These values were 55% and 62.2% for DAUFPE 14632 and DAUFPE 11470, respectively. The chlamydospore germination of Fusarium moniliforme was affected by glucose addition, antagonist isolates and type of inoculum. The lowest chlamydospore germination was observed with bacterial suspensions of the isolates, for all glucose additions. The results suggested that both Streptomyces spp. isolates were effective at different doses as biocontrol agents against F. moniliforme. Also, there was evidence for at least two mechanisms of biocontrol and that apparently, both isolates showed the same mechanisms of biocontrol action related to production of bioactive compounds and competition for carbon. Further studies will be developed to improve the level and effectiveness of control by these isolates.     

Benefits of a maize–bean–weeds mixed cropping system in Urubamba Valley,Peruvian Andes

Abstract

In the Urubamba Valley, Peruvian Andes, we evaluated the abundance of insect pests and natural enemies in experimental plots where maize was grown either as monoculture, intercropped with beans, or intercropped with beans plus associated weeds. We also assessed the consequences of the cropping system for maize yield. The main insect pests recorded were Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Carpophilus sp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Pagiocerus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), and their overall abundance did not differ among crop diversity treatments. However, there was a significant adverse effect of crop diversity on the maximum abundance of both Carpophilus and Pagiocerus. The main beneficial arthropods were Paratriphleps sp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), ladybirds and spiders, and their density did not differ among treatments. Maize yield did not decrease with increasing plant diversity. The reported benefits of intercropping, together with the associated efficiency in land use, make this traditional agricultural practice a valuable alternative to the use of pesticides, particularly for resource-poor Andean farmers.     

Does the shade avoidance response contribute to the critical period for weed control in maize (Zea mays)?

The effect of early weed emergence on crop seedling development has not been analysed within the context of a critical period study. Experiments were conducted to quantify the influence of a low light quality environment (i.e., low ratio of reflected red to far-red light (R/FR)) on maize seedling growth and development under non-limiting resource conditions. Weed-addition and -removal series were constructed, such that the effects of R/FR on seedling growth and development were isolated from those of direct competition. Maize seedlings responded to the presence of weeds within 24 h of addition by increasing plant height, which was followed by a subsequent reduction in the rate of leaf appearance. Seedling biomass and leaf area decreased linearly in the weed removal series with increasing duration of weed presence. Conversely, seedlings in the weed-addition series were unaffected. These results demonstrate that early exposure to weeds reduced the rate of seedling growth and development and that this effect was most pronounced if it was initiated upon emergence. This suggests that the existence of a period of developmental sensitivity to R/FR precedes the defined critical period for weed control in maize. These early physiological changes triggered by the R/FR ratio may contribute to the onset of the critical time of weed removal.     

Impact of push–pull cropping system on pest management and occurrence of ear rots and mycotoxin contamination of maize in western Kenya

Push–pull involves intercropping of cereals with Desmodium as a “push” crop and planting Napier grass/Brachiaria as the “pull” crop at the border. The technology has been reported to effectively control stemborers, striga weed, and fall armyworm (FAW), and to improve soil nutrition, resulting in increased grain yield. This study evaluated the impact of stemborer and FAW management using this technology on incidence of maize ear rots and preharvest contamination of grains with aflatoxin and fumonisin in western Kenya. The study was conducted during three cropping seasons on maize grown under the push–pull system and as a monocrop. Incidence of stemborer and FAW damage was determined as percentage of damaged plants, while incidence of ear rots was determined as percentage of ears with symptoms. At harvest, fungi were isolated from kernels and aflatoxin and fumonisin were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stemborer and FAW damage was significantly (p = .001) reduced by over 50% under the push–pull system. There was also a significant (p < .001) reduction in the incidence of Fusarium verticillioides (60%) and Aspergillus flavus (86%), which was reflected in a reduced incidence of ear rots (50%) with the push–pull system (p = .001). Fumonisin in maize from push-pull farms was significantly (p = .048) reduced (39%) but the technology had no significant (p > .05) effect on aflatoxin. The study showed that push–pull is an effective strategy for managing maize ear rots and fumonisins, and therefore could play a role in improving food safety among smallholder maize farmers in the region.     

Effects of nC24 and nC27 petroleum spray oils on oviposition and egg survival of Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera,Pyralidae) and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera,Trichogrammatidae) adults on maize plants

Abstract

The study determined the effectiveness of nC24 and nC27 petroleum spray oils (PSOs) to reduce oviposition of Ostrinia nubilalis and survival of O. nubilalis eggs and Trichogramma brassicae adults. Under choice and no-choice tests, maize treated with 3, 5 and 10% (v/v) of both oils deter O. nubilalis oviposition on maize. The study also showed that treatment of 1 – 3-day-old O. nubilalis eggs with 1 and 2% (v/v) nC24 oil caused 6% mortality compared with 99.5% when treated with 3, 5 and 10% (v/v) oil. In contrast, treatment with 1 – 10% (v/v) nC27 oil caused 99% mortality. Trichogramma brassicae is a major parasitoid of O. nubilalis. The mortality of T. brassicae 24 h after exposure to maize sprayed with 2% (v/v) nC24 and nC27 oils was 8.3 and 12.7%, respectively. At 5% (v/v), the mortalities were 24.9 and 23.5%, respectively. Therefore, application of 3% (v/v) PSO may deter O. nubilalis egg lay, egg mortality and survival of T. brassicae on maize.