Grey leaf spot, caused by Cercospora zeae maydis, is a major disease of maize in the
eastern hills of Nepal. It has been causing significant maize yield loss in the eastern high
and mid hills, and is also spreading towards the western hills of the country. A field
experiment was conducted during 2011 and 2012 in the eastern mid hills of Nepal to
identify the high yielding GLS resistant maize variety. The experiment was conducted in
Diktel, Khotang at 1400 mas! under natural incidence of grey leaf spot disease. The
experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Plot
size was 9 m2
• Six improved varieties (viz. Ganesh-1, Manakamana-3, Manakamana-4,
Deuti, Sheetala and Posilo makai-1) of maize were evaluated along with the local variety.
Scoring of the disease was done after the incidence of the disease at grain filling stage.
Maize genotypes differed significantly for grey leaf spot severity and grain yield. All the
improved varieties had lower disease severity and produced higher grain yield compared to
the local variety (51.13% disease severity and 3.71 tlha yield). Ganesh-1 gave the highest
grain yield (4.87 tlha) with lowest disease severity of 37.40%. Similarly, Manakamana-3,
Posilo makai-1 and Manakamana-4 yielded 4.44, 4.53 and 4.43 tlha grain yield with disease
severity of 38.87, 41.60 and 41.27%, respectively. Thus, incidence and severity of the
disease can be minimized and yield can be increased by using improved maize varieties like
Ganesh-1 and Manakamana-3 in the grey leaf spot prone areas of the eastern hills.

Grey leaf spot, caused by Cercospora zeae maydis, is a major disease of maize in the
eastern hills of Nepal. It has been causing significant maize yield loss in the eastern high
and mid hills, and is also spreading towards the western hills of the country. A field
experiment was conducted during 2011 and 2012 in the eastern mid hills of Nepal to
identify the high yielding GLS resistant maize variety. The experiment was conducted in
Diktel, Khotang at 1400 mas! under natural incidence of grey leaf spot disease. The
experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Plot
size was 9 m2
• Six improved varieties (viz. Ganesh-1, Manakamana-3, Manakamana-4,
Deuti, Sheetala and Posilo makai-1) of maize were evaluated along with the local variety.
Scoring of the disease was done after the incidence of the disease at grain filling stage.
Maize genotypes differed significantly for grey leaf spot severity and grain yield. All the
improved varieties had lower disease severity and produced higher grain yield compared to
the local variety (51.13% disease severity and 3.71 tlha yield). Ganesh-1 gave the highest
grain yield (4.87 tlha) with lowest disease severity of 37.40%. Similarly, Manakamana-3,
Posilo makai-1 and Manakamana-4 yielded 4.44, 4.53 and 4.43 tlha grain yield with disease
severity of 38.87, 41.60 and 41.27%, respectively. Thus, incidence and severity of the
disease can be minimized and yield can be increased by using improved maize varieties like
Ganesh-1 and Manakamana-3 in the grey leaf spot prone areas of the eastern hills.