Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for many households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and also contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP). However, the maize yields reported in most SSA countries are very low and this is mainly attributed to biotic and abiotic stresses. These stresses have been...
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PeerJ Inc.
2023-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/15685.pdf |
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| author | Faith Njeru Angeline Wambua Edward Muge Geert Haesaert Jan Gettemans Gerald Misinzo |
| author_facet | Faith Njeru Angeline Wambua Edward Muge Geert Haesaert Jan Gettemans Gerald Misinzo |
| author_sort | Faith Njeru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for many households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and also contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP). However, the maize yields reported in most SSA countries are very low and this is mainly attributed to biotic and abiotic stresses. These stresses have been exacerbated by climate change which has led to long periods of drought or heavy flooding and the emergence of new biotic stresses. Few reports exist which compile the biotic stresses affecting maize production in SSA. Here, five major biotic stresses of maize in Kenya are presented which are attributed to high yield losses. They include Maize lethal necrosis, fall armyworm, gray leaf spot, turcicum leaf blight and desert locusts. Maize lethal necrosis and fall armyworm are new biotic stresses to the Kenyan maize farmer while gray leaf spot, and turcicum leaf blight are endemic to the region. The invasion by the desert locusts is speculated to be caused by climate change. The biotic stresses cause a reduction in maize yield of 30–100% threatening food security. Therefore, this review focuses on the cause, control measures employed to control these diseases and future prospective. There should be deliberate efforts from the government and researchers to control biotic stresses affecting maize yields as the effect of these stresses is being exacerbated by the changing climate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:47:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-384f7a61bfce47d88e3c985429f3bba4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:47:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-384f7a61bfce47d88e3c985429f3bba42023-12-02T15:05:04ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592023-11-0111e1568510.7717/peerj.15685Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food securityFaith Njeru0Angeline Wambua1Edward Muge2Geert Haesaert3Jan Gettemans4Gerald Misinzo5SACIDS Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, TanzaniaDepartment of Physical Sciences, Chuka University, Chuka, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, BelgiumSACIDS Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, TanzaniaMaize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for many households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and also contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP). However, the maize yields reported in most SSA countries are very low and this is mainly attributed to biotic and abiotic stresses. These stresses have been exacerbated by climate change which has led to long periods of drought or heavy flooding and the emergence of new biotic stresses. Few reports exist which compile the biotic stresses affecting maize production in SSA. Here, five major biotic stresses of maize in Kenya are presented which are attributed to high yield losses. They include Maize lethal necrosis, fall armyworm, gray leaf spot, turcicum leaf blight and desert locusts. Maize lethal necrosis and fall armyworm are new biotic stresses to the Kenyan maize farmer while gray leaf spot, and turcicum leaf blight are endemic to the region. The invasion by the desert locusts is speculated to be caused by climate change. The biotic stresses cause a reduction in maize yield of 30–100% threatening food security. Therefore, this review focuses on the cause, control measures employed to control these diseases and future prospective. There should be deliberate efforts from the government and researchers to control biotic stresses affecting maize yields as the effect of these stresses is being exacerbated by the changing climate.https://peerj.com/articles/15685.pdfFood securityMaizeMaize lethal necrosisFall armywormGray leaf spotDesert locusts |
| spellingShingle | Faith Njeru Angeline Wambua Edward Muge Geert Haesaert Jan Gettemans Gerald Misinzo Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security PeerJ Food security Maize Maize lethal necrosis Fall armyworm Gray leaf spot Desert locusts |
| title | Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security |
| title_full | Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security |
| title_fullStr | Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security |
| title_full_unstemmed | Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security |
| title_short | Major biotic stresses affecting maize production in Kenya and their implications for food security |
| title_sort | major biotic stresses affecting maize production in kenya and their implications for food security |
| topic | Food security Maize Maize lethal necrosis Fall armyworm Gray leaf spot Desert locusts |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/15685.pdf |
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