Losses to the corn stunt complex (CSC) occur from the southern United States to Argentina. On a local level 100% losses can occur, and in a 1986 CSC epidemic in Nicaragua, national grain production was reduced by 11% (DGB-MIDINRA 1986; Hruska et al.1996). Leafhoppers of the genus Dalbulus, and especially D. maidis, are vectors of the disease complex that involves the corn stunt spiroplasma S. kunkelii (CSS), the maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBS), and maize rayado fino virus (MRFV) (Nault and Bradfute 1979). All three pathogens are transmitted in a persistent manner, and more than one of the pathogens can be transmitted at the same time (Gordon et al.1985). Plants in the field often have mixed infections (Henriquez et al. 1996), and infection at the seedling stage leads to the most severe losses. An artificial infestation technique has been developed for evaluating germplasm for resistance to infection by the components of the complex and together with regional evaluations has been used to produce CSC resistant synthetics, inbreds, and hybrids.

Global Maize Program

English

0311|AGRIS 0301|AL-Maize Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

INT1482

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection