title: Interaction between age of maize plants, environmental factors, and inoculum strength of Erwinia carotovora var. chrysanthemi on the extent of stalk rot incidence.
abstract: For optimum disease incidence and maximum mortality of maize plants, due to Erwinia carotovora var. chrysanthemi (Burkholder et al.) Dye, a temperature of 35 degrees C accompanied with 70 per cent humidity and inoculum potency of 2 x 10(8) cells/ml were essential for younger plants of 15 and 30 days of age. On the other hand, 45- and 60-day-old plants, due to acquisition of a certain degree of maturity, although responding and showing maximum disease symptoms at the same temperature of 35 degrees C, required a higher humidity of 90 per cent. A heavy dose of 4 x 10(8) cells/ml was needed for effectual disease response for 45- and 60-day-old and mature plants.
mesh_terms: D004885:Erwinia / Q000502:physiology*; D006813:Humidity; D010935:Plant Diseases; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*