ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract
Accepted 21st May, 2015
Greenhouse experiments were conducted at the Sugarcane Research Centre, Guneid (Lat. 15oN, long. 33oE and approximately 400 m above sea level) between March and September of seasons 2007/2008 and 2009/2010, respectively. The objectives of the study were to determine the viability and longevity of Ustilago scitaminea (Syd.) teliospores in dry and wet soil environments. Results showed that under both dry and wet soil environments viability and longevity of U. scitaminea (Syd.) teliospores remained effective up to the last tested sowing date interval of 64 days. Spore viability and longevity under the two soil conditions of wet and dry showed that smut teliospores maintained viability that was able to infect and incite the disease at an average of 64.3% and 50% infectivity at 64 days longevity under dry and wet soil conditions, respectively. The highest spore viability was observed in sowing date intervals of 1 and 2 days. And, the lowest were observed in sowing date intervals of 6 (32 days) and 7 (64 days). Sowing date interval 3 (4 days); 4 (8 days) and 5 (16 days) were intermediate.
Keywords: Epidemiology; Ustilago scitaminea (Syd.); teliospore viability; wet; dry; soils