Major maize disease problems and farmer's varietal preferences in Malawi
1999
Ngwira, P. Kanaventi, C.M. (Senior Maize Pathologits and Maize Breeder, Chitedze Research Station, Lilongwe (Malawi)) | Pixley, K.V. (Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Harare (Zimbabwe)) | De Vries, J. (Rockefeller Foundation, Nairobi (Kenya)) | Kanaventi, C.M. (Chitedze Research Station, Lilongwe (Malawi))
Farmers' preferred traits in maize varieties and their perception of current varieties were determined through a survey conducted in four Agricultural Development Divisions (ADDs) in Malawi during the months of January to March 1998. In addition, a maize disease status appraisal was done in a parallel survey during the same period. The maize disease appraisal led to the reprioritization of maize disease problems in the country. Most preferred traits among small scale, large scale (progressive) and influential farmers wereearly maturity, high yielding, resistance to weevils, tolerance to drought, and resistance to maize streak virus (MSV) disease. Large scale (progressive) farmers (those that cultivated 0.5 ha. of maize and have grown maize for 5 years), in addition to the above traits also preferred multiple cobing, good tip cover, large grain size, ear rot resistance and large cob size traits in a variety. Few farmers expressed the need to have a hybrid variety that could be recyclable. Epiphytotics of Turcicum leaf blight (Helminthosporium turcicum) and grey leafspot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) were observed in alllocations that were surveyed. The sudden outbreak of grey leafspot places this disease among the priority maize djsease problems in addition to turcicum leaf blight and MSV. A new disease, Bacterialleaf stripe (Pseudomonas andropogonis), was recorded. This disease was observed for the first time in the Shire Valley and Blantyre ADDs.
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