A REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE GRAY LEAF SPOT DISEASE MANAGEMENT OF QUALITY PROTEIN MAIZE (QPM) IN THE GUINEA SAVANNA ECOLOGIES OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

 and pigs. It was reported elsewhere that susceptibility to major leaf diseases are the major weakness of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) maize germplasm. Amongst the diseases Gray leaf spot, which has a very recent history of occurrence in Africa, is becoming the most important threat to maize production in the country. Yield losses ranging between 10% and 50% by gray leaf spot disease have been reported. Cercospora zeae-maydis is a polycyclic, facultative pathogen favored by a high relative humidity (>95%), cool, cloudy conditions with an extended dew period and temperatures of 22-30°C. Due to polycyclic nature of the pathogen sustainable disease management strategies should gear towards: those which reduce the initial inoculum, reduce the spread of the pathogen and those which also reduce the duration of disease development within affected areas.