Plant diseases usually impair plants’ normal state, thereby modifying or interrupting the vital functions of the plant. These diseases can affect all the plant species, cultivated and wild alike. Plant disease prevalence varies from one season to the other, depending on crop varieties grown, the conditions in the environmental as well as the presence of the pathogen. An example of a plant disease affecting U.S. plant species is the southern corn leaf blight. The disease is caused by fungi (Bipolaris maydis). It is also referred to as Helminthosporium maydis and affects corn (Zea mays) causing the cob to rot, and the stalk to break. The disease also causes the maize leaves to wither and appear to be covered in a grayish powder (Bruns, 2017).
According to Ward (2019), Bipolaris species are plant pathogens and can be found in soil, plant debris, as well as other variety of materials. These species reproduce by means of spores and, thus, dispersed by the wind throughout the air. In 1970, most U.S. corn farmers planted Texas cytoplasmic male sterile (Tcms) corn that had high susceptibility fungus B. maydis race T. The pathogen spread rapidly because of the corn’s high susceptibility to the pathogen as well as very wet weather conditions. The resulting effect was a devastating epidemic.
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Different ways have been recommended to curb Bipolaris maydis. While all the ways are acceptable, the most effective ways have been the use of hybrid maize species. Hybrid maize is usually resistant to the disease and, thus, reduces the chances of infection. The second way of curbing the spread of the disease has been crop rotation, which minimizes the chances of spores germinating in next season. Foliar fungicides have also been used as a deterrent in the seed production fields.
References
Bruns, H. (2017). Southern Corn Leaf Blight: A Story Worth Retelling. Agronomy Journal , 109 (4), 1218. doi: 10.2134/agronj2017.01.0006
Levings III, C. S., Rhoads, D. M., & Siedow, J. N. (1995). Molecular interactions of Bipolaris maydis T- toxin and maize. Canadian journal of botany , 73 (S1), 483-489.
Ward, J. (2019). Bipolaris - Species, Health Effects & Treatment | Mold Busters. Retrieved 28 October 2019, from https://www.bustmold.com/resources/mold-library/bipolaris/
