The Agricultural Research Council’s Grain Crops Institute has warned farmers to be vigilant of Diplodia maize rot amongst their crops.
According to the institute, the maize rot reduces grain quality and poses a threat to the health of animals once consumed.
A report from Farmers weekly suggests that outbreaks of Diplodia favour late, heavy rain, and usually occur before and during colder months – which has been the trend in South Africa recently.
Plant pathologist Belinda Janse van Rensburg says the late rains keep maize crops wet and thus increase the opportunities for fungal growth. “In these cases, producers are urged to harvest earlier at higher moisture levels, and dry the grain artificially.”
