DOI: 10.11648/j.ajasr.20261203.16 ISSN: 2471-9730

Northern Leaf Blight of Maize ( Exserohilum turcicum ) in Southern Ethiopia: Incidence, Distribution, Yield Losses, and Management Practices – A Narrative Review

Daniel Abebe, Damtew Atnafu
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Maize ( Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops contributing significantly to food security, income generation, and livestock feed production. However, maize productivity is constrained by several biotic stresses, among which Northern Leaf Blight (NLB) caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is one of the most distractive foliar disease affecting maize production across different agro ecological zone, including Southern Ethiopia. This narrative review aimed to synthesize available information on the incidence, distribution, yield losses, and management practices of NLB in Southern Ethiopia relevant scientific Publication, research reports, field studies, and institutional documents were reviewed to evaluate the current status of the disease and identify major challenges affecting its sustainable management. The reviewed evidence indicated that NLB is widely distributed in maize growing areas of Southern Ethiopia, with disease occurrence and severity varying according to agro ecological conditions, cropping systems, cultivar susceptibility, and pathogen adaptation. favorable environmental conditions, including high relative humidity, moderate temperatures, prolonged leaf wetness, continuous maize cultivation, and the widespread use of susceptible varieties, contribute to disease development and epidemics outbreaks. Yield losses associated with NLB depend on disease severity, timing of infection, host susceptibility, and environmental conditions, with severe infections causing considerable reductions in grain yield. Current NCLB management practices mainly on the use of resistant or tolerant maize varieties, cultural practices, and fungicide application. However, the effectiveness of these approaches is limited by inadequate availability of improved seed, weak extension services, limited farmer awareness and insufficient diseases management approaches involving resistant varieties, improved agronomic practices, regularly disease surveillance, and rational fungicide use are essential for sustainable management of NLB in southern Ethiopia. strengthening maize breeding programs, improving seed deliver systems, and enhancing farmer- oriented disease management strategies are recommended to reduce the impact of NCLB and improved maize productivity in the region.

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