Epidemiology and management of charcoal rot of maize caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid

Charcoal rot of maize incited by soil borne pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. causes huge economic losses in most of the maize growing areas of country. This disease characterized by premature drying, discoloration of nodal tissues, and affected internodes become gray-black discoloration and tilted cobs. The disease appeared at flowering stage where maize is grown in water stress conditions.This soil-borne pathogen is so hardy and soil inhabitant, which cannot be managed only by the use of chemical pesticides but also using other approaches. Therefore, an integrated approach is essential taking resistant cultivars, soil amendments, fungicides, and seed treatment with bioagents. The book chapter provides latest information on economic losses, epidemiology, disease cycle, and integrated disease management methods.There is need to generate more information on the losses caused by charcoal rot on maize, factors affecting disease development, population biology, and management.