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Li Shaokun: How to Effectively Prevent Maize Drought
In recent months, Dong Shuting, a corn expert from Shandong University of Science and Technology and vice president of Shandong Agricultural University, conducted an on-site survey in southwestern Shandong Province. He found that since May this year, a large population of Laodelphax striatellus (small brown planthopper) has been causing widespread outbreaks of maize rough dwarf disease in Jining City. The disease incidence has been particularly severe, with intercropped corn planted before the 20th of the month being more affected. Recently, experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences also visited the region and confirmed that the occurrence of maize rough dwarf disease is indeed serious.
If left uncontrolled, the disease can reduce yields by up to 50%, and in extreme cases, it may result in total crop failure. In response, reporters reached out to Li Shaokun, a senior expert in maize science at the Ministry of Agriculture. He stated that specific prevention and control measures have been developed, and local authorities are actively working to manage the outbreak.
Over the past few years, the prevalence of corn diseases in the Huang-Huai-Hai region has increased significantly. According to Li Shaokun, shifting from intercropping to direct seeding is one of the most effective strategies. This method helps prevent the spread of pathogens, reduces disease incidence, and delays the peak period of pest transmission.
Laodelphax striatellus is a virus-carrying insect that originally feeds on wheat and rice. When these crops are harvested, the planthoppers move to intercropped or early-planted corn. The maize rough dwarf disease is transmitted through this pest, with the virus primarily overwintering in winter wheat and planthoppers. The primary infection source is limited, and the transmission pathway is relatively simple.
The disease can affect corn throughout its growth cycle, but it is most damaging during the early stages—specifically before the fifth leaf appears. Infected plants show shortened internodes, stunted growth, and dark green leaves. White, dashed lines appear along the veins of the leaves, and the upper leaves tend to cluster together. Severely infected plants may fail to produce tassels or ears, or if they do, the tassels will be sparse, with little or no pollen. The ears may be weak or contain very few kernels, and many plants die during the tasseling stage.
Li Shaokun noted that most of the currently promoted corn varieties are highly susceptible or even sensitive to the disease, and there are no resistant varieties available. Therefore, the main strategy for controlling the disease focuses on avoiding the migration peaks of Laodelphax striatellus, breaking the infection cycle, and implementing chemical pest control.
Key measures include: first, closely monitoring the occurrence of SBPH (Small Brown Planthopper) in production areas. Second, transitioning from intercropping to direct seeding, delaying the sowing date of summer corn, and avoiding the peak migration period of the planthopper. Since the 4th to 5th leaf stage is the most vulnerable to the disease, adjusting the sowing time to avoid overlap with the planthopper’s migration peak is crucial. It is recommended that summer corn be directly seeded rather than intercropped, especially after wheat harvest. Third, chemical control methods should be used. Before or after sowing, insecticides can be applied to adjacent wheat fields and field margins. For example, spraying 10 grams of 10% imidacloprid per mu can help control the planthopper population.
If corn has already been planted and a high number of planthoppers are observed in the weeds, insecticides should be sprayed at the seedling stage. A mixture of 10% imidacloprid (30 grams per acre) and 5% mycorrhizal clear (100 ml) can be used to both kill pests and reduce disease incidence. Spraying should be repeated every seven days, with 2–3 applications needed to effectively control the disease.
Additionally, using systemic insecticides as seed treatments can provide long-term protection. For instance, treating 100 kg of corn seeds with 125–150 g of 10% imidacloprid or mixing 100 ml of "Full Gold" with 100 g of seed dressing can control planthoppers for over a month, significantly reducing their numbers in young corn plants and preventing the spread of the virus.
Other measures include promptly removing diseased plants in the field, utilizing areas where Laodelphax cannot survive (such as dicotyledonous crops), and planting soybeans or cotton around corn as a protective barrier. These steps can further reduce the risk of disease spread.
Currently, neighboring provinces such as Henan, Hebei, and Shaanxi have not reported any cases of the disease. This may be due to reduced planting areas and an increase in direct seeding practices in recent years. However, vigilance remains essential to prevent the disease from spreading further.