Abstract

MARQUEZ-DIEGO, José Jesús; LEON-GARCIA DE ALBA, Carlos De; ROJAS-MARTINEZ, Reyna Isabel  and  SANCHEZ-PALE, José Ricardo. Incidence and effect on grain yield of the “monkey’s hand” disease in 29 maize genotypes. Rev. mex. fitopatol [online]. 2021, vol.39, n.3, pp.529-537.  Epub Dec 13, 2021. ISSN 2007-8080.  https://doi.org/10.18781/r.mex.fit.2106-2.

Recently, an increase in the presence of symptom of a possible new disease on maize has been observed which farmers have called “mano de chango” (monkey´s hand) due to the prolificacy shown by the ears. Initial reports, in the 1960s, indicated, with no proofs, that this disease was caused by fungi, insects, or nutritional deficiencies with incidences up to 100% and losses in grain yield. This is the first work where evaluation of incidence of the disease, in 21 commercial hybrids in the Toluca Valley, State of Mexico, a comercial hybrid and a native variety in the Mezquital Valley, Hidalgo State, and six improved open pollinated in Montecillo, State of Mexico. The highest incidences and grain yield losses were recorded in the genotype Aspros HC8 and the native variety “Hidalgo”, in Mezquital Valley, Hidalgo State, where disease symptoms showed considerable yield reduction. It is necessary to continue studies to determine the etiology and generate information to select genetic resistance to this possible new disease.

Keywords : Monkey´s hand; phytoplasms; maize diseases.