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A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape
Dissertation (MSc Agric (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2016.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1867613528304648192 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Aveling, Terry A.S. |
| author_browse | Aveling, Terry A.S. |
| author_facet | Aveling, Terry A.S. |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Dissertation (MSc Agric (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2016. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/110030 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:34.848Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/110030 A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Aveling, Terry A.S. u11021820@tuks.co.za Berger, D.K. De Ridder, Katrien Maize Ear rot disease Survey Foliar diseases Grain Mycoflora Dissertation (MSc Agric (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2016. Maize (Zea mays L.) foliar and ear rot diseases as well as grain mycoflora play an important role in the growth and development of the maize plants. Some foliar and ear rot diseases are considered to be economically important on maize in South Africa (SA). Seed-borne mycoflora also significantly affect maize plant health. The current study was undertaken to determine whether the major foliar and ear rot diseases occur in small-holder farms as well as to identify the grain mycoflora. Seed health tests were conducted on maize grain collected from five small-holder maize farms located in Creighton (KwaZulu-Natal) (KZN), Estcourt (KZN), Hilton (KZN), Bizana (Eastern Cape) (EC) and Tabankulu (EC) in 2015 and 2016. Nine fungal genera were isolated and these included Alternaria, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Rhizoctonia, Sarocladium and Stenocarpella. Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg and Stenocarpella maydis (Berk.) B. Sutton were isolated from grain samples from all the sites. The current study showed that crop growth stages at the time of grain collection plays an important role in the mycoflora prevalence in maize grains. Foliar disease surveys on the prevalence of four major foliar diseases in SA including grey leaf spot (GLS), Turcicum leaf blight (TLB), common rust (CR) and Phaeosphaeria leaf spot (PLS) were conducted during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 maize growing seasons. Four small-holder maize farms were surveyed and they are located in Estcourt, Hilton, Creighton and Bizana. Maize hybrids developed specifically for small-holder farming practices were planted in selected farms. Findings from the foliar disease survey indicated that GLS, TLB, CR and PLS were prevalent in the small-holder farms. The causal organisms of GLS, TLB and CR were identified as Cercospora zeina Crous & U. Braun, Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) K.J. Leonard & Suggs and Puccinia sorghi Schwein., respectively. TLB, CR and PLS were more severe in farms in which the maize planting dates were delayed compared to earlier plantings. GLS disease severity and incidence was significantly less due to the hot and dry conditions prevailing during the 2016 season. Pre-harvest ear rot disease surveys were conducted in four small-holder maize farms located in Creighton, Estcourt, Hilton and Bizana at the end of the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 maize growing seasons. The ear rot disease surveys aimed at identifying whether the three major ear rot diseases of maize in SA namely Fusarium ear rot (FER), Gibberella ear rot (GER) and Diplodia ear rot (DER) were prevalent in small-holder maize farms. The surveys iv revealed that the above mentioned ear rot diseases are prevalent in maize small-holder farms with FER having the highest incidence followed by GER. DER had the lowest incidence. The causal organisms of FER were identified as F. verticillioides, Fusarium subglutinans (Wollenw. & Reinking) P.E. Nelson, Toussoun & Marasas and Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl. whilst the causal agents of GER and DER were identified as F. graminearum and S. maydis, respectively. The surveys revealed that the prevalence of these diseases are highly variable with the variability possibly ascribed to the differences in the rainfall pattern observed during 2015 and 2016. Plant and Soil Sciences MSc Agric (Plant Pathology) 2026-05-15T17:26:07Z 2026-05-15T17:26:07Z 17/02/07 2016 Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2263/110030 en application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | Maize Ear rot disease Survey Foliar diseases Grain Mycoflora A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape |
| title | A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape |
| title_full | A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape |
| title_fullStr | A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape |
| title_full_unstemmed | A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape |
| title_short | A survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape |
| title_sort | survey of major foliar and ear rot diseases in selected small holder maize farms in kwazulu natal and the eastern cape |
| topic | Maize Ear rot disease Survey Foliar diseases Grain Mycoflora |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/110030 |