Factors affecting the progression of southern corn leaf blight (SCLB) in maize caused by Bipolaris maydis (Nisik and Miyake) Shoemaker

Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), caused by Bipolaris maydis (Syn. Helminthosporium maydis), is a serious fungal disease of maize throughout the world where maize is grown under humid and warm conditions. Present investigation was carried out to identify the factors which influences the progression of disease. During the assessment of infection level in maize plants of different ages, it was revealed that 50 days old plants were found most susceptible, when pathogen culture of different age was evaluated on maize plants, it was recorded that 14-days old culture had highest potential for infecting the plants. First and third sub-cultures of pathogen exhibited highest per cent disease index. Conidial germination of the pathogen was also checked at different incubation periods (4 to 36 hours), and it was found that maximum conidial germination (67.46%) occur after 36 hours of incubation.