By Lungile Ntimba
The Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Department has issued an alert after detecting Goss’s Wilt bacteria on maize in South Africa.
It has been identified in the Free State, North West, Gauteng and Eastern Cape, according to department spokesperson Linda Page. It significantly reduces yields and quality.
“Official samples were collected after random surveys in collaboration with research institutions and government in the reported areas,” Page said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The pest was positively identified by molecular techniques Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing].”
The department reaffirmed its commitment to conduct further research on the epidemiology and management of the pest to assist local maize producers. It was concurrently conducting delimiting surveys to assess the disease’s spread accurately.
Maize is the only known economically important host of the pathogen. Over short distances, the disease spreads within fields by contacting leaves on adjacent plants. However,
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insideeducation.co.za
