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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Maize mosaic (074)

Photo 1. Stunted maize with deformed ears (right) infected with Maize mosaic virus. Note the thin yellow stripes.

Photo 2. Stunted maize with single yellow lines and broad yellow bands running parallel to the length of the leaves. Note the ears are not only deformed, but mostly lack seeds.

Photo 3. Maize mosaic is spread by the planthopper, Peregrinus maidis. The planthopper breeds in the "throat" of maize, and that is the place to look for colonies; sometimes, ants will be present too.

Summary

Worldwide distribution. In tropics and sub-tropics. On maize, sweet corn and itch grass (Rottboellia). A minor virus disease.
Light green to yellow stripes along the leaves, singly or in bands, 1-2 cm wide. Plants stunted.
Spread is by planthoppers, that live and breed in the “funnel” of the leaves.
Impact usually low with only 1-2 % plants affected.
Cultural control: resistant varieties; removal of infected plants.
Chemical control: infection is usually low so insecticides would be uneconomic.

Common Name

Maize mosaic, corn mosaic

Scientific Name

Maize mosaic nucleorhabdovirus; the abbreviation is MMV.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Photo 3 Richard Markham, ACIAR, Canberra.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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