Pests and Diseases of Maize (Zea mays)

Pests and Diseases of Maize (Zea mays)

Pests which are found in the cultivation of sweet corn borer, among others, cob borers, grasshoppers, aphids and rats. The following properties of sweet corn pest plant:

• Maize stem borer (O. furnacalis), these pests attacking crops in vegetative and generative vase. Crop damage occurs because the larvae bored into the stems of plants to get food. Maize stem borer can be controlled by adjusting the rotational cropping technically as with soybeans and peanuts. In addition it could also by cutting the male flowers and apply the appropriate planting time. Biological extermination by utilizing natural enemies such as Trichogramma spp. Euborellia annulata or natural predators that prey on the larvae.
• Caterpillar Cob (H. armigera), these pests attacking corn cobs. At first imago leave eggs on the hairs of corn. After the larvae will grow into the cob. These pests have sedentary habits, so that the damage inflicted on corn cob can be more than the number of larvae. Prevention against this pest is to implement good land preparation. Tillage which would reduce the population of caterpillars next cobs. The main enemy of this pest is Trichogramma spp. which is a parasite eggs and larvae of parasites argentiopilosa Eriborus young.
• Lice Leaves (R. maidis), these pests secrete honey dew on the leaves that turn into black soot. The stains will prevent the leaves do photosynthesis. Natural enemies of these pests is Lysiphlebus mirzai, Coccinella sp. and Micraspis sp. Technical culture can do to avoid these pests by poly plants or menumpangsarikan sweet corn with other crops.
• Grasshopper (Oxya spp.), These pests are widely grown in lowland grassland or paddies. Several natural enemies of locusts is Systoechus sp., Birds and spiders. In addition pathogens such as Metarhizium anisopliae is the enemy locusts. Biopesticide Metarhizium anisopliae is a material that is capable of controlling 70-90% locusts.
• Rat (Rattus argentiventer), these pests usually attack plants sweet corn grown in paddy fields. Cob eat young mice were mature milk, usually rats eat the cobs from the tip to the middle of the base. Organic pest control mice is to hunt down and eradicate rats from the nest.

Besides pests, cultivation of sweet corn can not be separated from the disease caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Here are some diseases that often attack the sweet corn crop is mainly grown in the tropics:

• Bule (Peronosclespora maydis), Caucasians disease symptoms are leaf surface and white striped up yellow followed by the color brown. Then the attack damage cob. This disease can strike throughout the growing season, but most cases attacking the cultivation of sweet corn grown out of season or late planting. This disease attacks cause great damage, can cause a loss to 100%. Caucasians disease can be avoided by the selection of seed varieties that are resistant P. maydis, destroy infected plants, planting according to season, and crop rotation.
• Rust (Puccinia sorghi), the symptoms are patches of brown to orange blotches on the upper leaf surface. This disease usually affects maize grown in the tropics to moderate. The disease develops at temperatures 16-23oC with high humidity. Can be controlled by the selection of seed varieties, keeping the garden sanitation and application of biopesticides when the ulcers appear on the leaf surface.
• Leaf blight (Helminthosporium turcicum), the disease attacks the leaves of the early symptoms of patches of small oval blight that developed into a grayish brown. Usually the attack was found in older leaves (below) and then spreads to younger leaves (above). In the severe circumstances can menyababkan death in plants with dry leaf appearance like fire. To control using resistant varieties, good tillage, weeding and spacing. On the cultivation of non-organic sweet corn can be applied fungicides.
• Leaf blight (Curvularia sp.), This fungus causes leaf blight with early symptoms of irregular spots on the tip of the leaf, the central whitish brown blotches bordered with dark brown. Spotting extends to the base of the leaf to make the whole leaf dries. The disease is rapidly spreading in conditions of high humidity and rainfall. Control by choosing resistant varieties, improved soil drainage, improve sanitation and eliminating garden plants or parts of plants affected.
• Sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani), symptoms such as a foul on the midrib. Initially attack on the plant closest to the ground and then spread to other parts. At certain varieties bida strike to the ear pieces. Control by regulating the cultivation of sweet corn to drought, planting varieties with cobs distance from the ground is high enough, merompes leaves in contact with the soil, weed the garden, cut the plants attacked and applying crop rotation.