Currently, about 50 known phytopathogenic viruses infect maize worldwide; however, the maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is the most common. Studies on the effects of MDMV have progressed in the experimental fields of the Chirchik State Pedagogical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In the latest research, seven different maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars received mechanical inoculation of viral sap. After infection, symptoms of a viral disease appeared 4–5 days later. A specific anti-serum, obtained by immunological method, served to diagnose the MDMV. The virus infection rate in 2020 was 47%, but in 2023, after using the developed control measures, it was 23%. Different maize genotypes, selected for the study, came from the genetic bank of the Scientific Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. According to the results, under the influence of MDMV, the number of cobs reduced by 50%, the length of cob decreased by 43.21%, the number of grains per cob decreased by 30.43%, and 1000-grain weight declined by 28.6%. In maize healthy genotypes, the average protein content was 3.5%, while in infected samples the said ratio was 2.5% and that decreased by 1.00%.
Maize (Zea mays L.), cultivars, maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), distribution, phytoviruses, yield-related traits, productivity, plant diseases
The results revealed considerable effects of MDMV on yield-related traits and productivity of different maize (Z. mays L.) genotypes.