Dangerous Maize/Corn streak Virus ,how to identify it ,prevent or avoid the disease.

Hello, this is Fred, the farmer and the agronomist, and today I'm in a class, I'm also learning a new school, and I thought it's wise also to share with you, maybe you've seen this kind of a behavior in your maize field, in your neighbor's field, or you've not seen it. So, this is a class for Lazo, if you've not seen it, this is the best class for you. So, I want you to learn, I want you to know what causes this, I want you to get the skills so that you can avoid this. This is a killer disease, as you can see, it can wipe even a thousand acres of maize within a very short period of time, but the question is, what is this disease? What causes the disease? How can we avoid this disease? Kevin, the farmer! How are you, Mr. Fred? I'm good, I'm good. You're doing well? I'm doing well. And, I'm doing well. You're doing well? Yes. With this kind of farm, you're saying it is well, but I know why you're saying it's well. Yes. You know, you're the teacher, you're the research guy, and without these challenges, you're not going to train people. Yes. So, today, I've visited you to follow up on a few things that you're doing. I'm so happy for the research you're doing, for the chemicals you're researching about, for the diseases, and everything for the pest. Here in Kenya, the biggest food basket that we look at is maize. So, when you talk of food security, you focus much on maize products. I wanted to know a few things about what you're seeing. I know the viewers who are following this program, who are following the YouTube channel, are also wondering, why is it? Have you used the acid to spray your maize? Is it field irrigation? Is it fertilizer? Because sometimes, this happens when you use excess foliar. Okay, yeah. The burning and stuff. The scorching. So, first things first. You know, I'm the only one who knows you. It's good. You tell farmers who you are, what you do, where they can find you. Yes. My name is Kevin. Kevin Ochieng. I'm actually in research. I do this. We do conduct efficacy trials. That is why most of these chemicals actually pass through us before they are actually certified by BCPB. So, you as a farmer, you help farmers get the best product that can help farmers. Exactly. Apart from conducting efficacy, also we do farming. Yes. For commercial purposes and small scale farming. Yes. So, with regard to this, I can actually say I'm a small scale farmer. Yes, you're a small scale farmer. Yes. And you're a small scale farmer. Exactly. I'm also one. Talking of this field, looking at this field how it is, to start with, why is it so? Why scorching? Why we have stunted growth? Why? What is happening here? Basically, this field has been infected by maize streak virus. Maize streak virus. Yes. And when maize streak virus actually infect a crop, it actually leaves it vulnerable to other viral diseases. Okay. Like you can see some symptoms are more than maize streak virus. You can see the maize lethal necrosis also. Yes. Entering. So, basically, this crop stand has been affected by a variety of viruses, but most specifically maize streak virus. Maize streak virus. Yes. That means maize streak virus, there is a way it interferes with the immune system or the defense mechanism of the maize or of the crop. Basically, it's actually all diseases. It's all diseases. Yes. Once it comes, the crop becomes weak. Yes, affect the plant or the crop. Yes. It actually becomes weak and vulnerable to other diseases. Yes. And also pest infestation. Aha. So, basically, diseases, that is what diseases do. Even in our bodies, you realize we have diseases that are known as opportunistic diseases. Yes. They only come in as a secondary after the first disease has actually affected your body. Aha. Yes. So, your body is vulnerable to other diseases. Yes. So, back to maize streak virus. How does it happen? As a small-scale farmer, how does it happen? It's not for the small-scale farmer. Is it for the small? You know, there are some diseases back in my very youth. People used to say, these are diseases for the rich. Basically, so long as you have maize. Yes. And you're producing maize, this is actually a threat. And more so, it is the number one most serious viral disease in maize. Number one most serious viral disease in maize. In maize. Yes. And when it starts, it can, like I'm seeing now, these are out almost two acres of maize. Yes. And the whole farm is wiped by the maize. Yes. And I can tell you, this crop is around two months. This one is two months old? But you cannot actually tell if it's two months. Because what maize streak virus does, especially when it is inoculated or it affects the plant, when it is around four to seven, between four to seven leaf stage, because in maize, we usually determine the growth stage by the number of leaves. So, when it is affected, before it reaches four to seven leaf stage, it causes a serious planted growth. That the plant cannot actually grow in height. Cannot grow beyond that. It cannot grow in height beyond actually the infected stage. Okay. Yes. But because I understand, comparing with my past experience with the crop, the horticultural crop, any disease is either caused by the environmental pollution. Yes. Or at least a cause organism that causes any disease. So, for maize streak virus, what brings the disease or what causes the disease? Basically, this disease is actually interaction of so many things. Yes. One, it's a viral disease as I've told you. So, the causal organism is actually the virus. But it is transmitted by several pests. Mostly, the number one vector is actually the leaf hoppers. The leaf hoppers. Leaf hoppers. So, we have several species of leaf hoppers that transmit the maize virus. Yes. It has many names. Yes. But basically, in this part of the country, we know that maize leaf virus. Maize streak. Maize streak virus. Yes. Maize mottling virus also is another name for this disease. So, basically, it is an interaction of so many viruses. Yes. But what causes the maize virus disease? This disease is called maize streak virus disease. Which is caused by maize streak virus. For you to avoid this disease. Yes. One, you have to keep off any pest or any insect that comes to the farm. Let us go systematically. Yes. As I have told you, it is brought about by interaction of the environment. Yes. Vector. Okay. And actually the presence of the causing organism. The causing organism. Yes. We have about three species of this disease or the virus that causes this disease. And their distribution is actually determined by the geography and also the range of the host plant. Okay. Yes. You find that in sub-Sahara. Yes. It is actually so prevalent in sub-Sahara as compared to other parts of the world. And also it is found in many parts of the world. Yes. But it is very severe in sub-Sahara. Okay. Because of the temperatures. Yes. Now, why? This is because different geographical locations. Yes. Have different environmental kind of setting and ecology. Yes. You find that in sub-Sahara the temperatures are very high. Yes. Now, the temperatures are very important when it comes to multiplication of the vector which is actually the leaf poppers. Yes. So, in temperatures between around 18 to 30 degrees, multiplication is very high. Yes. Or the rate of production of these organisms is produced very highly. Yes. You see, this is an organism that only requires 30 days to actually bring about another generation. Aha. Yeah. When the temperatures are right. Yes. They multiply very fast. Yes. So, because they are the vector, this disease is solely transmitted by vectors. Vectors. Yeah. So, the vectors are very important in spreading of this disease. What is a farmer supposed to adhere to for them to be able to have a clean maze and to avoid infection of this disease? Okay. Basically, what happens is that this disease is a very erratic disease depending on the environmental conditions that favors the multiplication of the vectors. Yes. So, one thing, you realize you visited me several times. Yes. One thing you must understand about this disease is that. Yes. It is very severe off-season. When you plant maize off-season or when you fail to plant maize early. You see. Let me cut you short. Aha. Because this is a new term and a technical term. Yeah. When you speak of off-season, what do you mean? Off-season, you know, we have several seasons as you know. We have seasons per year. Yes. Like let's say, for example, Mount Kenya region. Exactly. We have two seasons. If I take you back to your traditional planting of maize. Yes. What you do? You actually wait for maybe a week or two before the rains. You prepare your land. Yes. You wait about two to three weeks. Yes. And then you do your planting. Yes. And then you realize after several weeks, the rain starts and then. They grow. Yes. They grow. Yes. So basically, when you do it off-season, this is where we have a prolonged drought. Yes. Yeah. Which most of the time is usually preferred during harvesting. Yes. You see. So that prolonged period of drought, you find that the prevalence or the presence of the pest is so high. Aha. So the population of the pest is so high during very high temperatures. Yes. That is actually characterized in off-season periods. This is a new disease to many farmers. And so many farmers have not experienced this. And some farmers have experienced this, but they don't know whether it's a disease. Farmers or those who are following this training may like to know, how can they tell this is mystery pilar? Okay. It's not this and it's not that. What are the symptoms? In short, what are the symptoms of this mystery pilar? The leaves. Yes. Or the paths of crops. Yes. That show some severity. Yes. Like if you're very keen. Yes. You realize. You see the leaves. Yes. The leaves that are affected by mystery pilar. Yes. You can see yellow streaks. Aha. Yeah. So that's where the name comes from. The name comes from. It's the yellow streak that are running. The yellow streaks that are running. Yes. Parallel to the venation of this crop. Yes. Or this leaf. Aha. And then. Yes. Basically they start as yellow, small yellow specks. Small yellow specks. Yes. When. You can show me one. Do you have one? Like you can actually see. Yes. These. Yes. These are specks. Aha. These ones. Yes. The small specks. Aha. So during the first introduction of the organism in the crop. Yes. So the disease infestation or the disease symptoms starts from about seven days. Seven. One or two weeks. Yes. After infection. These specks are the pest bites or what is it? Okay. Basically these are the initial signs. The initial signs. Aha. Because those are not pest bites. Yes. Because once it has actually launched or it has actually suck. Yes. They feed on the sap. Aha. So during the feeding. Yes. The virus comes from the gut and it's actually infected in the plant. Yes. System. Yes. So basically the initial stages or the initial symptoms are actually yellow specks. Okay. Or flakes. Yes. So these yellow specks or flakes. Yes. Actually elongate with time to actually form what you are seeing here now. Where is that? This one here. What you are now seeing here. Aha. Which is actually there. The streaks now. The streaks. Aha. And then when these, you know, when these streaks are actually so many. Yes. They cause about the wilting. The wilting and the scorching thing that I'm seeing. Okay. And then as I've told you, when infection starts very early. Yes. Between four and seven leaf stage. Yes. It causes about stunted growth. Yeah. And then when the infection reaches a stage where you can actually see the crop hustling. Yes. It brings about mottling. Yeah. Mottling of the inflorescence. Yes. So it kinds of mottling and they shoot. It does the growth, anything that is coming. That is coming from, I think it also affect the system of uptake of water and stuff. Yes. So basically it destroys the growth and also the uptake of water. Aha. That is what actually brings about a wilting of the younger crops. You can actually see. Yeah. I can see. I can see so many. Yes. So the crops have already wilted. They have already wilted. Aha. So basically it brings about formation of streaks. Yes. This is where it even obtained that name. Aha. And then the mottling of the inflorescence. Aha. And then also at some advanced stages. Yes. You find that the maize, the maize cob. Yes. Does not actually because of improper fertilization and stuff. Yes. The maize is not full. Okay. Yeah. Aha. Yeah. It has. A lot of spaces. A lot of spaces on the cob. Yes. And of very poor quality. Yes. The seeds or the kernels are of very poor quality. Aha. Yes. And most common is actually the streaks. The streaks. And then the standard growth. But when you see them at this level know that you are done. There is no reversal. Basically you are done. Yes. At this stage because it spreads very fast from one crop to the other. You can actually find one crop even if you tag. Yes. One crop and then affected by the maize streak virus. Yes. And then after very few days not even days about two days. Yes. It has already affected the next crop. Okay. Yeah. So the best thing you can do at this stage is actually to discount your losses and remove everything and. You've already lost it. Yes. So and now from simple terms is logging a way of trying to prevent the spread of the disease? Yes. You can do that very early. Like when you see about two to three maybe. Like you can actually see another crop stand. Yes. Just above this one. I was here. Yes. You can see there are few. Yes. But you know it is being harvested now. Aha. So when it does actually infected the crop stand. Yes. Very early. Aha. Early on when you see a few. Yes. Not actually like this population has been majority has been affected. Yes. So if you find a few. Yes. You can actually log. Aha. And completely discard the remains or actually the crop that has been affected. Yes. And then you make sure that you control the vectors. Because even after removal if you don't control those vectors they will actually carry the virus to. To the next. To the next crop. So you do logging early. Yes. When only a few have been affected. Yes. And then you control the vectors. Wow. Yes. With different chemicals. You have so many chemicals. And for the leftovers of this means. Now minus pest. Let's say all the pests are dead. Yes. And we are left. We use this as mulching for the soil. Yeah. Can the leftover spray also spread the diseases? Basically you know. If there is no pest now we are using this as mulch. As mulch. In another means plantation. Can they spread? I think it's not proper. Aha. Because they act as reservoirs for this virus. Yes. And now there is something that carries them. Yes. Now it can be. It can carry the virus. Yes. We have a reservoir. If you have a reservoir. The disease can easily be carried to another crop. Okay. So even if you use it as mulch. Then actually do crop rotation. Okay. Because this disease is actually specific on maize family. Yes. So basically if you want to do that. If you want to use this as mulch. Then you can actually use it. But you do crop rotation. If you want to avoid this. Is actually plant early. Early planting. That is one thing. Yes. And then the second thing also. You are supposed to control these disease spreading organisms. These vectors. Yes. Once you control them. You will actually kind of salvage. Not really a hundred percent. But you will actually salvage your crop. Okay. Yeah. And then the other one is actually using tolerant or resistant varieties. Which are actually in the market. And I don't want to talk about them. Because I'll be marketing some companies. Yeah. Don't worry about that. When you know. At the end of it. Farmers. You know. These are tips. Yeah. For when farmers go to buy maize. Yeah. They have to make sure. They have to check on the tolerance and the resistant levels of whatever they buy. Exactly. Yes. We may not be able to mention. Which varieties. Yeah. But I think these are. These are cheap. When you go there. Check the tolerance levels. Check the resistant levels. Exactly. Of which I. I don't know. Whether there is the resistant one. Yeah. But they are tolerant. Yeah. We may be having the tolerance one. Yeah. But one that is resistant. Completely resistant. Maybe a challenge. Unless it's a GMO. Yes. And that's why our government is. Proposing for. Introduction of GMO. To avoid some of this challenge. Yes. Yeah. So those are some of the ways. And then. Basically. Field hygiene. To destroy. Talking of field hygiene is the weeding and. You do the weeding. Yes. And then. You clear. The previous croppings. So we planted maize here. Yes. and then after planting maize, we only skip about two months and then we did another maize. Another maize, yes. You see? So basically you are supposed to destroy the reservoir, which is actually the remaining. The remaining of what was there previously. Was previously planted. And then basically do weeding properly so that you can actually remove the hide out of these pests. Yes, or these vectors. Okay. Yeah. I want to take you back to the off-season. When you talk of off-season is, and you told us that you're supposed to grow among the measures is farming. Few, having your maize planted few days or few weeks before the rain starts. Now for the farmer who is doing irrigation, which are the precautions? Because now this is the off-season that you talked about. Yes. This is a farmer who is farming against the season. And I remember me telling some farmers, some farm few days I'm telling, telling, advising farmers. The off-season farmer, a farmer who is off-season is always on the market. Exactly. Because the competition is minimal. And if there is, you're competing with another farmer who has been using irrigation. So at some point you are here to make sure you make profit. Not as compared to a farmer who is under rain. For the off-season farmer, which precautions? Remember when I told you, this disease is erratic. Yes. The meaning of that statement is, this disease can actually occur in one season. You can find that in a particular year, it is actually endemic to endemic levels. Yes. In a... Yes. By the following year, the cases are... Are minimal. Exactly. So you find that farming is also about risking. So even if you are doing off-season, what you can actually do, improve the tolerance of your crops. Yes. How do you do that? Ensure that proper cultural activities. Yes. And then you feed your crop well. You know that when you feed a crop well, it actually even develop resistance to other diseases. To the other diseases. Yes. So you do your cultural practices very well. Yes. Ensure that you remove the reservoirs. Yeah. Use the appropriate chemicals to control these vectors. Yes. And make sure that your crop is actually clean. Uh-huh. Yeah. Remove weeds and everything. And then, feeding of these crops. Yes. From very early stage, you feed it well. Yes. Even if the disease will affect the crop later on. Yes. It will have developed some sort of resistance and it can actually produce before it is too late. Yes. As I've told you, this disease is very severe, especially when the crop is, have around four to seven leaves. Okay. Yes. The four to seven leaf stage. Uh-huh. So after that, even if it affect the crop. Yes. You can actually salvage a few, you can actually get some yields. Uh-huh. Yes. There is a point I'm waiting to hear from you that this has been your song. You usually sing that one. Yes. The crop rotation. Ah, exactly. I've not mentioned it. Thank you for that. Now, you see, when you talk about food security in Africa or in Kenya, especially in Kenya, we measure it by maize. True. 100% true. 100%. And we need to avoid that. Exactly. We need to rediscover and know that there is another crop that can give us food. Diversification. We diversify it. Exactly. Yes, that is the one. So basically, you find that continuous monocropping. Yes. Yeah? It's also a cultural practice that you need to avoid. Do some crop rotation. Plant another crop that is not of the same species. So that you can actually clear the reservoir and also break the disease cycle. Okay. Yeah? So that is one of the cultural practices that I'm talking about. Yeah. I wanted to talk about. So crop rotation, farm hygiene, and control of pest and this pest that act as vectors. Yes. And now I'm still on irrigation. We have several types of irrigation. Among them, the basin, the flooding. We have the furrows, like the one that we're using here. Then we have the drip irrigation. Okay. Which is usually the leaves of this plant are not in contact with the irrigation. Yes. But we have this special type of irrigation which is overhead irrigation using sprinkler. Yeah. Can it be among the factor that farmers can consider for them to reduce the magnitude of this disease? The spread, yeah? Yes. You know, the disease, what happens, the pest inoculate the disease causing organism. That is the virus. Yes. On the leaves, on the stems. Yes. And then this disease can actually spread also from one crop to the other. Yes. By even irrigation water. The irrigation water. Yes. So basically, you avoid some sort of irrigation. When you use like drip irrigation, it's quite expensive, but it's one of the best kind of irrigation that you can actually use. Unlike the overhead irrigation. And as you know, even in production of tomatoes, in production of other horticultural crops, you find that overhead irrigation is not really recommended. Sure. Because it brings about some conditions that favor the development of fungal diseases and stuff. Yes. So basically, drip irrigation is the best. Is the best. But this is what we have. So sometimes you find that most of us farmers cannot actually afford it. Sure, sure, sure. So we use farrow irrigation, but with several precautions. Wow. And ensuring that the crop is, because you cannot out-rule it. Yeah. You know, you cannot tell somebody, most of these farmers that you see around here have leased their farms. Yes. And you find that they have leased this piece of land like for one year or three years. Yes. So you cannot actually endeavor and invest heavily because drip irrigation requires heavy investment. Yes. So you cannot invest in a piece of land that you have leased for about two or three years. Sure. You see? So we have the farrow irrigation, and then you have talked about basin irrigation. Most of the time, we don't use basin irrigation in maize production. We usually use the farrow irrigation. The farrow irrigation and drip. And I've also seen the ovine. The ovine irrigation. Yes. Yes, yes. Very common. Ah. Yeah. So still on this disease, now just before we break or we part, the precaution is, you said it's the variety getting a tolerant variety. You get a tolerant variety. Making sure that if possible, the previous cropping was not a crop of maize family. Yes. Not from maize family. Yes, that this include, the family include some grasses because this is a disease of maize, sugarcane. It affects sugarcane also. Okay. Yeah, there are some strains that affect the sugarcane, the grasses, you see? Yes. The oats, barley, rye. Yeah. So it's not for maize alone. Not really for maize. It's killing the whole family. It's killing the whole family, but now they are found in different species. The one that affects sugarcane, yeah? Different species, but actually it's almost the same. Ah, wow, wow, wow. Yes. I think I got all that I wanted to know about the virus. Yes. Precautions, and also be able to, it's also good to, because I know not many farmers you've seen this. It's also a precaution, farmers that should take, those who have not experienced it, it's worse as you can see. Yeah, clearly. I'll continue engaging you more, to learn more from you, and also you to share with farmers. And I'm happy for the information that you are sharing with us. Yeah. And for the farmers that are viewing us, for the farmers that have joined us, if you are new here, make sure you subscribe to this channel because this is where you get all the information about farming, about technology, and about any disease or anything that is disturbing you. And from Kevin and I, we are so happy that you followed us to the last bit, and you've learned something. If you have a question, you can leave it on the comment section. Don't forget to share the video with other farmers so that we can continue learning together. Bye.