Curent Status of Maize Leathal Nicrosis
Disease in Tanzania
Presented to Regional Workshop to Develop a Strategy for
Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in Eastern and Central Africa
at Jacaranda Hotel
20th - 24th August
By
K. Kitenge & Maize team
Outline
 Introduction
 Disease identification survey
 Survey report
 Measures taken
 Immediate
 Long term
 Way forward
1. Introduction
 In the recent years reported of unknown disease
affecting maize in some areas of
Lake zone (Mwanza, Musoma and Shinyanga)
Central zone (Singida)
Northern zone - (Manyara- Babati, Mbulu and
Simanjiro)
(Arusha- Karatu, longijave, Mlangarini and
Arusha)
Therefore there was a need of conducting a
disease identification survey
Introduction..
• Areas Affected
*
•Mwanza
Manyara
•Manyara
•Arusha
2. Disease identification survey
 Following reports of an unknown disease in Tanzania,
CIMMYT was invited to become part of a task force to confirm
reports of a new maize disease that has been spreading and
causing major loses among farmers
 The Task force comprised of Drs. George Mahuku
(Pathologist),and Dan Makumbi (Maize Breeder) of CIMMYT,
and Dr AnneWangai from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
 The team was joined by Mr. Ignath Rwiza of the Lake Zone
Agricultural Research Institute (LZARI) in Mwanza, and Dr.
Richard Ndondi from Suba-Agro Trading Company (SATEC) in
Arusha.
3. Survey report
 Over a 4-day period, the team visited 8 farms in the Mwanza
region and 4 farms in the Arusha region.
 A total of 60 samples (30 from Arusha region and 30 from
Mwanza region) were collected and these were analyzed for the
presence of the potyvirus- sugarcan mosaic virus (SCMV)
 and maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) using the dot blot
assay with antibodies specific to sugar cane mosaic virus
(SCMV), maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV).
…Survey report
Some of the samples were analyzed using reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction Rt-PCR
technique with potyvirus-specific primers.
 Out the 30 samples from Mwanza region, so far 9
have been analyzed and 4 samples tested positive for
MCMV
 While 4 samples tested positive for both MCMV
and SCMV viruses, and one sample was negative for
both viruses
…Survey report
All samples from the Arusha region have been tested, and
2 samples were positive for MCMV, 8 samples for SCMV and
14 samples were positive for both MCMV and SCMV.
No virus was detected in samples collected from a very
young crop labeled field 13 in Arumeru district. Maize lethal
necrosis disease (MLND) or Corn lethal necrosis (CLN) is a
result of infection of maize plants by SCMV and MCMV.
The detection of both viruses, either alone or in combination
in the samples collected confirms the presence of MLND in
Tanzania
…Survey report
Affected plants
Affected plants
Karatu April, 2013
Nshara – Hai, April 2013
Disease Symptoms
 Season 2012, there were a
number of fields infested
with this kind of disease
 During CIMMYT M & E it
was found that the
symptoms were the same as
those found in Kenya
 The idea to bring CIMMYT
pathologist was then
initiated
Disease Symptoms in cont’d
Mlangalini - Arusha
Mlangalini - Arusha
Measures taken
 Immediate actions
Sensitization activities
 Information sharing with stakeholders (emails, reports)
 Training extension, politicians and other decision makers at
district , region and national levels though their respective
meetings
 Encourage stakeholders to visit SARI to see the disease
 Interviews to researchers made by journalists and Press releases
 Present papers to policy makers within & outside the zone Parliament
 Through conducted field visits to districts in the zone
 Production & distribution of extension materials (brochure,
posters)
 Video documentation
 Still pictures collections
Participants from Rombo, March 12, 2013
Participants from Same DC, March 15,
2013
Participants from Siha, March 13, 2013
Participants from Arusha DC, April 23, 2013
Participants from Mbulu DC, April 30, 2013
Participants from Babati TC, May 3, 2013
Participants from Kiteto DC, May 6, 2013
…Actions
 Writing a proposal involving multidisciplinary
activities to contain the disease
 Breeders
Agronomists
Pathologists
Extensionists
Social economists
Police makers
Solutions (What farmers should do)
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Use treated improved seed
Proper field management
Fertilizer application
Field sanitation
Early planting
Rouging if few plants are affected
Distraction of the whole field
Crop rotation
Reporting to their leaders
Long term &The way forward
1.
.Screening of new material National and Regionally
available for resistant to the disease
2. Development of new varieties using
resistant parental materials
3. Release of resistant varieties
The End