Survey on the incidence of maydis leaf blight of maize incited by Bipolaris maydis in major maize growing regions in Tamilnadu

Maydis Leaf Blight (MLB) or Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB) caused by Bipolaris maydis (Nisikado)
Shoemaker is a serious foliar disease of maize distributed widely in maize producing areas throughout the world
where grown under warm and humid conditions. The present study was conducted with the aim of assess the
MLB incidence of maize in three districts of Tamil Nadu revealed the endemic nature of the disease with
incidence ranging from 5.61 to 26.41 per cent. The maximum per cent disease index (26.41%) was recorded in
Keeramangalam village of Pudukkottai district. Maydis leaf blight infected leaf samples were collected and pure
hyphal tip cultures of nine isolates were maintained on potato dextrose agar. The pathogenicity of the fungal
pathogens was also proved after artificial inoculation of maize plants.