Soil Populations of Fusarium Species at Lobamba Lomdzala, Mahlanya During the 1998/99 Cropping Season

Abstract

Fusarium species whose members have telomorphs in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex are one of the major groups of pathogens that cause diseases of maize. Mating population A (pink Fusarium m moniliforme) and mating population f (yellow fusarium moniliforme) which had shared the Fusarium Moniliforme and Fusarium thapsinum respectively. These two species are mainly found in cultivated fields where maize and sorghum are grown.

Soil samples were randomly sampled at three different sampling times from Mahlanya. The serial dilution method was used to isolate (Fusarium species and the isolates were then subcultured on Nash and Snyder Agar. The results from this study show that large populations of Fusarium species occur in the soil at Mahlanya. These populations were lowest before planting but increased with advancement in the growth stage of maize crop. Pink Fusarium moniliforme occurred in significantly greater numbers than Fusarium thapsinum in all the sampling times chosen. UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol. 4 (1) 2000: pp 77-82