Influence of Pollination on Smut Disease and Yield in Maize

Year 2018, , 463 - 470, 05.12.2018

Mehmet Aydoğdu , Nuh Boyraz

https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.490958

Abstract

Ustilago maydis, causal agent of smut disease in maize, induces significant yield losses by forming colossal galls (tumours) on cobs. Since infection process of U. maydis is parallel with natural pollination of maize, an interaction between maize pollination and the smut fungus is probable. To reveal this interaction perceptibly, a 2-year field study was carried out in Antalya province of Turkey. As host plants, 8-maize-cultivars belonging to different maize variety groups [dent (Ada-523, Pioneer-3394 and Side), flint (Karaçay and Karadeniz Yıldızı), sweet (Merit and Vega) and popcorn (Antcin-98)] were used in the experiment. Inoculations were performed by injecting inoculum into cob silks in pre- and post-pollination periods in plots. In addition, control plots were set up for each treatment. In conclusion, average disease severity, incidence and yield losses of all the maize cultivars in pre-pollination inoculations (PrePI) were 3.8, 20.7 and 45.5%, whereas in post-pollination (PostPI) inoculations, they were 0.9, 15.7 and 35.9%, respectively. It was found that in both years, disease values of the PrePI were higher than those of the PostPI. This study suggested that pollination period of maize is an important factor affecting U. maydis infection in cobs and accordingly yield losses. 

Keywords

Maize pollination; Ustilago maydis; Yield loss

References

• Agrios G N (2005). Plant Pathology, Fifth Edition. Elsevier Academic Press, USA Anonymous (2013). http://www.antalya.mgm.gov.tr/ sondurum/turkiye.aspx (Access date: 04.08.2013)
• Aydoğdu M (2015). Huitlacoche yield in some maize varieties in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Food Science and Technology (Campinas) 35(2): 386-390
• Aydoğdu M & Boyraz N (2011). Effects of nitrogen and organic fertilization on corn smut (Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda.). African Journal of Agricultural Research 6(19): 4539-4543
• Bojanowski J (1969). Studies of inheritance of reaction to common smut in corn. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 39(1): 32-42
• du Toit L J & Pataky J K (1999). Effects of silk maturity and pollination on infection of maize ears by Ustilago maydis. Plant Disease 83: 621-626
• Enerson P M & Hunter R B (1980). A technique for screening maize (Zea mays L.) for resistance to ear mold incited by Gibberella zeae (Schw.) Petch. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 60: 1123-1128
• FAO (2015). http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/Q/QC/E (Access date: 05.05.2015)
• Görtz A, Oerke E C, Steiner U, Waalwijk C, Vries I D & Dehne H W (2008). Biodiversity of Fusarium species causing ear rot of maize in Germany. In: 3rd FHB Symposium, 1-5 September, Szeged, Hungary, pp. 617
• Headrick J M, Pataky J K & Juvik J A (1990). Relationships among carbohydrate content of kernels, condition of silks after pollination and the response of sweet corn inbred lines to infection of kernels by Fusarium moniliforme. Phytopathology 80: 487-494
• Johnson I J & Christensen J J (1935). Relation between number, size and location of smut infections to reduction in yield of corn. Phytopathology 25: 223-233
• Kırtok Y (1998). Mısır Üretimi ve Kullanımı. Kocaoluk Basım ve Yayınevi, İstanbul
• Kyle C H (1929). Relation of husk covering to smut of corn ears. U.S. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin: 120, pp. 1-7
• Marsh S F & Payne G A (1984). Preharvest infection of corn silks and kernels by Aspergillus flavus. Phytopathology 74: 1284-1289
• Mohan S K, Hamm P B, Clough G H & du Toit L J (2013). Corn Smuts. A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication. Oregon State University-University of Idaho-Washington State University, PNW 647
• Pataky J K (1991). Production of cuitlacoche [Ustilago maydis (DS) Corda] on sweet corn. Hortscience 26(11): 1374-1377
• Pataky J K & Chandler M A (2003). Production of huitlacoche, Ustilago maydis: Timing inoculation and controlling pollination. Mycologia 95(6): 1261-1270
• Pataky J K & Snetselaar K M (2006). Common smut of corn. The plant health instructor. http://www.apsnet. org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/fungi/Basidiomycetes/ Pages/CornSmut.aspx (Access date: 04.04.2015)
• Pataky J K & Richter P M (2007). Silk abscission in two sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids that differ in susceptibility to common smut infection of ears. HortScience 42(6): 1409-1412
• Pataky J K, Nankam C & Kerns M R (1995). Evaluation of a silk-inoculation technique to differentiate reactions of sweet corn hybrids to common smut. Phytopathology 85: 1323-1328
• Poehlman J M (1987). Breeding field crops. Avi Publishing Company, INC, Wesport, Connecticut, USA
• Reid L M, Bolton A T, Hamilton R I, Woldemariam T & Mather D E (1992). Effect of silk age on resistance of maize to Fusarium graminearum. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 14: 293-298
• Shurtleff M C (1980). Compendium of corn diseases. 2nd edition American Phytopathology Soc. St. Paul, MN, USA
• Snetselaar K M & Mims C W (1993). Infection of maize stigmas by Ustilago maydis, light and electron microscopy. Phytopathology 83: 843-850
• Snetselaar K M, Carfioli M A & Cordisco K M (2001). Pollination can protect maize ovaries from infection by Ustilago maydis, the corn smut fungus. Canadian Journal of Botany 79(12): 1390-1399
• Tunçdemir M (1985). Buğday ve mısır hastalıkları semineri. Orta Anadolu Bölge Zirai Araştırma Enstitüsü, 25-29 Mart, Ankara
• Tunçdemir M & Iren S (1980). Samsun ve çevresinde mısır rastığı (Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda.) ‘nin biyoekolojisi üzerinde araştırmalar. Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Diploma Sonrası Yüksekokulu İhtisas Tez Özetleri, Ankara Basımevi
• Yanıkoğlu S, Küçük İ, Sezer M C & Meriç H (1999). Mısır Gözlem Klavuzu. Tarım ve Köyişleri Bakanlığı, Tagem, Sakarya Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü, Yayın No: 12