Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Fungal Disease Incidence, Severity, and Prevalence in maize across Dry and Wet Seasons in the Hadejia Agroecological Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a key staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa, yet its productivity is frequently constrained by fungal diseases that affect plant health, grain yield, and quality. Understanding the spatial and seasonal dynamics of these diseases is essential for developing effective management strategies in maize-based farming systems. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of fungal disease incidence, severity, and prevalence in maize farms across five maize-producing villages Ganuwar Kuka, Gatafa, Gudunchin, Jiyan, and Turabu in the Hadejia agroecological zone of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Field surveys were conducted during the dry and wet seasons of 2022 and 2023 using a repeated cross-seasonal survey approach. Disease incidence, severity, and prevalence were assessed through field observations of symptomatic plants and analyzed using analysis of variance with mean separation by the Least Significant Difference test at the 5% probability level. The results showed significant variation in disease parameters across locations and seasons. In 2022, fungal disease incidence ranged from 26.3% in Gatafa to 46.9% in Turabu during the dry season, while wet-season incidence ranged from 23.3% in Jiyan to 40.0% in Ganuwar Kuka. In 2023, incidence values increased, reaching 48.7% in Jiyan and 47.4% in Gatafa during the wet season. Disease severity followed similar patterns, with maximum severity values of 48.7% recorded in Jiyan (2022 wet season) and 44.4% in Turabu (2023 dry season). Disease prevalence also varied significantly, ranging from 13.1% to 47.7% across seasons and locations. These findings demonstrate pronounced spatial and seasonal variability in maize fungal diseases in the Hadejia area and highlight the need for location-specific and season-sensitive disease management strategies to enhance sustainable maize production.