RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAIZE STUBBLE PLACEMENT IN SOIL AND SURVIVAL OF STENOCARPELLA-MAYDIS (DIPLODIA-MAYDIS)

Survival of and pycnidium production by Stenocarpella maydis in artificially infected maize stalk stubble placed on, half buried into, and buried in the soil were determined in field trials over a nine month period. Survival was higher in stubble which remained on the soil surface than in buried stubble. Pycnidial development increased on surface and buried stubble from September onwards, but subsequently decreased on buried stubble. Conidia retrieved from the variously positioned stubble segments did not vary in viability. More pycnidia were produced over an eleven month period on naturally infected stubble retrieved from the soil surface than from in soil. Reisolation and conidium viability of S. maydis from the surface stubble were higher than from buried stubble.