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Bacterial stalk rot of maize (Dickeya zeae) – identify and control
Bacterial stalk rot of maize, Dickeya zeae was first reported in 1942 in Australia, then was identified in Africa, Israel, India, Italy, USA.
Symptoms. The first symptoms appear on the sunny side of the plants. Where, under the leaf sheath, the stems show dark green spots, with a moist appearance, 10-20 cm long. The stems soften, the tissues are destroyed and the plants break. The leaves above the diseased area wilt and dry out in the period before flowering. The roots are reddened and become crumbly, and as a result, the plants do not form cobs.
Bacterial stalk rot of maize is not transmitted through seeds, but it is stored in the plant debris in the field for 27-36 weeks. If they are buried in the soil, the bacterium retains its viability for 2-7 weeks, depending on soil moisture and temperature. The infections take place through the wounds produced by the corn borer, being favored by the atmospheric humidity of over 60-70% and by the temperature between 26-28°C.
Prevention and control. It is recommended to use a crop rotation system and to sow corn from the seed lots, where the disease did not manifest itself because the seeds may be infested at harvest.
