The document describes post flowering stalk rot in maize, which is caused by the pathogens Cephalosporium acremonium and Cephalosporium maydis. The pathogens survive in soil, plant debris, and seed. Primary infection occurs through seed, while secondary infection spreads through wind. High temperatures and drought stress favor disease development. Management strategies include crop sanitation, crop rotation, avoiding water stress at flowering, seed treatment, and growing resistant varieties.

1. Maize
Post flowering stalk rot
Cephalosporium wilt (Black bundle disease and late wilt)
Cephalosporium acremonium/cephalosporium
maydis

2. Post flowering stalk root

3. Symptoms:

4. • Pathogen
• Conidiophores swollen or slender; conidia are one
celled, hyaline and are produced
• successively at the tip and usually embedded in a
slimy drop.
• Disease cycle
• Both the pathogens survive in soil, plant debris and
seed.
• Primary infection is by seed
• Secondary infection is by wind.
• Favourable Conditions
• High temperature and low soil moisture (drought)
favour the disease.

6. •Management
• ¾ Crop sanitation
• ¾ Crop rotation
• ¾ Avoid water stress at flowering
• ¾ Seed treatment with Thiram or captan@3g/kg
seed
• ¾ Grow resistant varieties like DHM-103, DHM 105,
Hi-Starch and Ganga Safed-2.