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Kabatiella zeae (eyespot )
Kabatiella zeae
eyespot
Aureobasidium zeae
Asia: China, India, Japan; Europe: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, UK; North America: Canada, USA; Oceania: New Zealand; South America: Argentina, Brazil,
IL, IN, IA, MI MN, NY, ND, SD, WI
2025-12-30
fungus
Korea
Main: corn
KABAZE
Kabatiella zeae is a host-specific fungal pathogen of maize that causes eyespot. It is a foliar disease characterized by small, translucent circular to oval lesions; under favorable cool, humid conditions, lesions may coalesce, resulting in significant leaf blight, yield losses, and increased susceptibility to stalk rots. The fungus overwinters in infected corn residue, which serves as the primary inoculum source, producing conidia that are dispersed short distances by splashing rain to initiate infection. Continuous corn and conservation tillage systems favor disease development.
Crops
Zea mays
corn
Uncertain
KABAZE-3, KABAZE-4, CABI CPC, KABAZE-5, KABAZE-6, KABAZE-7, KABAZE-8, KABAZE-9, KABAZE-10
The role of seed as a pathway for Kabatiella zeae remains uncertain. A single study published by Reifschneider (1979) reported the detection of the pathogen in approximately 2% of seed harvested from ears artificially inoculated beneath the husk. However, these findings were obtained experimentally and do not demonstrate seed transmission under natural field conditions. No subsequent studies have confirmed seed infection or transmission, and no additional reports of seedborne spread have been published. Consequently, seed is not considered a proven pathway.
Yes
Culture
NSHS METHOD: Mz 14.1 Culture Plate (formerly Cf 11.1)
METHOD: Mz 14.1
NSHS USDA
Biological, Chemical, and Cultural
Management relies primarily on resistant hybrids, crop rotation and residue management to reduce inoculum, with fungicides used only where legally permitted and economically justified, particularly in seed production fields.
KABAZE-5, KABAZE-7
2025-12-30 12:20:28
KABAZE-3
Reifschneider FJB; Arny DC, 1979. Seed infection of maize (Zea mays) by Kabatiella zeae. Plant Disease Reporter, 63:352-354
KABAZE-4
Jones DR, Baker RHA, 2007. Introductions of non‐native pathogens into Great Britain, 1970–2004. Plant Pathology 56: 891– 910.
CABI CPC
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
KABAZE-5
Lipps PE, Mills DR, 2005. Eyespot disease of corn. Ohio State University Extension.]
KABAZE-6
Chen, N., Xiao, S., Sun, J., He, L., Liu, M., Gao, W., Xu, J., Wang, H., Huang, S. and Xue, C., 2020. Virulence and Molecular Diversity in the Kabatiella zeae Population Causing Maize Eyespot in China. Plant Disease, 104(12), pp.3197-3206.
KABAZE-7
Munkvold, G.P. and White, D.G. eds., 2016. Compendium of corn diseases, Vol. 165. St. Paul, MN: APS Press.
KABAZE-8
Reifschneider, F. J. B., and Arny, D. C. 1983. Yield loss of maize caused by Kabatiella zeae. Phytopathology 73:607-609.
KABAZE-9
Pronczuk, M., Bojanowski, J., and Warzecha, R. 2004. Effect of leaf infection by Kabatiella zeae on stalk rot prevalence and grain yield of maize hybrids. J. Phytopathol. 152:410-415.
KABAZE-10
Arny, D. C., Smalley, E. B., Ullstrup, A. J., Worf, G. L., and Ahrens, R. W. 1971. Eyespot of maize, a disease new to North America. Phytopathology 61:54-57.
NSHS USDA
United Stated Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Protection Service National Seed Health System (USDA-APHIS NSHS) www.seedhealth.org
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