Determining the Incidence and Severity of Maize Ear Rot Disease in Western Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and severity of the symptoms of ear rot in the four counties in Western Kenya. Maize ear rot disease is caused by a complex relationship involving the fungal pathogens; Stenocarpella spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp. Nigrospora spp, Gibberella spp., Fusarium spp., Stenocarpella spp., and Aspergillus spp. According to reports, these diseases produce mycotoxins, which are hazardous to both cattle and people, and simultaneously degrade the quality of the maize crop.  Using a stratified random sampling design (SRSD), studies were conducted in 12 Divisions in the counties of Kisumu, Homabay, Siaya, and Migori in Western Kenya during the successive long and short rain seasons of September to December 2014 and February to July of 2015, respectively. The divisions served as sampling units, and the farmer fields served as sampling fields. All 12 of the divisions under study had a high prevalence of maize ear rots. Only from February to July 2015 were they more prevalent than from September to December 2014.