Abstract:
Virus transmission through seed is common method in many annual crops including maize.
Transmission of viruses causing maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) through seed has
been reported. An experiment was conducted in the laboratory and field condition under the
Department of Plant Pathology of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207
during 2022-2023.The lab experiment was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design
(CRD) with four replications and the field experiment in a Randomized Complete Block
Design (RCBD) with three applications. In total ten varieties/lines viz., GT722, HEERA-55,
10V20, Tain-927, APURBA-784, Kohinoor, Konok, SUPER-92, Super Shine-2760 and
Sweet corn were selected for conducting the experiments. Among the tested maize
varieties/lines, the lowest disease incidence and severity (at reproductive stage) of MLND
was found in variety HEERA-55 and the highest in line GT-722 and variety SUPER-92.
According to disease rating scale used in this study, all the tested varieties/lines showed
highly susceptible while variety HEERA-55 showed susceptible reaction. From the findings
of the study, it was revealed that out of ten tested varieties/lines, two varieties; Super Shine2760
and SUPER-92 showed better performance in terms of morpho-physiological features
as well as yield and yield contributing characters as compared to other tested varieties/lines
against MLND. It was also revealed that chlorophyll content was higher in healthy leaves
then diseased leaves due to MLND. From the findings on different parameters considered in
the present study, it can be concluded that viruses caused maize lethal necrosis disease
(MLND) in maize transmitted through the seeds.
