Prevalence, Distribution and Impact of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Maize plants displaying severe mosaic, chlorosis and necrosis were observed in five
provinces of Ethiopia. ELISA test from symptomatic samples revealed the presence of
maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), two
components of maize lethal necrosis disease. In 2014 and 2015, surveys conducted in
Oromia, SNNP, Benishangul Gumuz, Amahara and Tigray regions showed that the
two viruses were present in a significant number of plants. Mixed infections were
detected and associated with severe severity and yield losses. The report of maize
-lethal necrosis disease in Ethiopia is of high level concern for producers in the country
because of the potential of an epidemic that can devastate maize seed and grain
production. According to this survey report MLND severity in SNNP was the highest
with a mean rate of 3.5, followed by Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, Amahara and
Tigray with mean severities 3.2, 2.5, 2 and 1.5, respectively. It is estimated that
severely affected areas can experience a massive yield loss of over 95 % and this will
affect total maize yield produced in the country. Thus it is recommended that farmers
should avoid growing maize in consecutive seasons, continuous/stagger cropping,
movement of affected crop debris from one region to another; practice crop rotation
and intercropping with non-cereal crops, rouging out affected maize debris and
application of insecticides to curb the impact of the disease and improve maize yield.