South Africa

Diplodia Hits S. Africa Maize Crop Hard
Reuters, July 19, 2000

Less than 50 percent of South Africa's white maize harvest will be of top grade quality after wet weather caused an outbreak of a fungal infection known as diplodia, RMD Financial Services said in a report. A diplodia infection, aggravated by wet weather, rots the base of the maize cob and causes quality problems in the kernels.