Maize growers are being warned to bury maize stubble as quickly as possible after harvesting in order to reduce eyespot infections in next year’s maize crop.  Incidences of eyespot infection in this year’s maize crop are less widespread than at first feared, reports Dr Simon Pope, Wynnstay’s arable sales manager. But where the disease has taken hold, yield losses of up to 80% have been reported. “Eyespot has been a significant problem for growers in the south west of England,” Dr Pope explains. “But it is slowly spreading across southern England and into South Wales. In particular, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire have become real hotspots for the disease with growers reporting significant yield losses.”

“Despite the very wet summer, we have seen fewer cases of infection than anticipated. This is largely a reflection of the fact that the growing season has been warmer than average, which has prevented the disease taking hold too extensively.”

Maize eyespot is a fungal disease which is caused by the fungus Kabatiella zeae . It produces stroma which over-winter in maize debris and germinate in the spring to produce conidia which are wind and rain dispersed. “It is therefore important to bury the trash as quickly as possible to prevent the re-infection of following crops,” Dr Pope stresses.

“Deep ploughing gives the best results because it prevents sporulation and causes the fungal stroma to rot in the ground. Shallow cultivation techniques are less effective at controlling the condition and any surviving stroma will germinate as soon as the temperature reaches 10 oC in the spring.”

Maize plants are at their most susceptible to infection at a temperature of between 10 and 12 degrees centigrade and c onidial germination on the maize leaf requires seven hours of continual leaf wetness . “That is why cold, wet seasons provide ideal conditions for the spread of the disease,” Dr Pope suggests.

“There are differences in eyespot incidence between varieties,” he continues. “Ixxes has had another fantastic season in terms of yield and crop maturity, and it has also proved resilient to the effects of eyespot. It is isn’t completely invulnerable to infection, but when the disease does take hold, its subsequent development and spread appears not to be as pronounced as with other maize varieties.”

Maize crops that have been grown under plastic also seem to have been less affected by the disease. “Because crops grown under plastic can be harvested earlier than conventionally grown crops, they are not exposed to the disease for as long. Therefore the effects can be less pronounced and there is less risk of yield implications,” Dr Pope concludes.

For further information please contact Wynnstay Arable on 01939 210555.

▲back to top▲