Incidence of maize ear rot in western Kenya

Abstract

Abstract Twenty‐five maize genotypes were planted at Kitale and Kakamega, western Kenya, in 1987, 1988, and 1989. Estimates of percent diseased ears, expressed as a disease index (DI), were made 8, 14, and 20 weeks after midsilk. There were no differences (P=0.05) among years nor between locations. The disease index varied significantly (P=0.05) among genotypes as well as sampling dates. The genotypes differed in the incidence of symptomatic rotted ears; disease severity increased with time after midsilk. The average DI for all the genotypes at 8, 14, and 20 weeks post‐midsilk was 34.9, 45.1, and 52.9 respectively. Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium moniliforme were isolated from both rotted and asymptomatic kernels. Stenocarpella (Diplodia) spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp., and Helminthosporium spp. were isolated from rotted kernels.