Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

In Manipur, maize is the second most important crop next to rice and is used both for direct consumption and as well as feed ingredients for piggery and poultry farming. Northern corn blight or turcicum leaf blight caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs (TLB) is one of the major diseases affecting maize (Zea mays L.) in different maize-growing regions of Manipur. The survey was conducted to determine the present status and to know the level of infection in five different districts of Manipur namely (Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Senapati, and Kangpokpi districts) by the pathogen Exserohilum turcicum in maize and to determine the prevalence, incidence, and severity of this disease in those areas. A total of 57 farmer fields were surveyed by adopting a simple random survey from Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Senapati, and Kangpokpi districts of Manipur during the cropping season of 2022 for the Kharif season. The disease was observed in almost all surveyed areas. The results of the survey revealed that the highest disease incidence was observed in the Senapati district (77%) and the least having the Imphal West district (40%). The disease severity was observed to be highest in the Senapati district (70%) and the least having the Bishnupur district (40%). The incidence and severity of the disease vary according to different environmental conditions and crop stages. The present study indicates the incidence and severity of Turcicum leaf blight disease of maize on which management strategies could be derived to improve maize production in the surveyed areas.