The Impact of Corn Stunt Severity on Premature Death in Maize

Corn stunt is a vector-transmitted disease that provokes physiological disorders expressed in leaves, stalks, and ears, ultimately resulting in premature plant death. Despite its agronomic importance, the quantitative relationship between corn stunt severity and early plant mortality has not been clearly elucidated. This study fills this gap by examining how incremental corn stunt severity affects the incidence of premature death and how different corn genotypes influence this relationship. Data were collected from three independent experiments conducted at different locations in Brazil, where disease severity and percentage of early plant death were recorded. Using a linear mixed-effect model, we found a significant increase in the probability of premature death with the increase in corn stunt severity. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated that genetic background plays a central role in this pathosystem, with certain genotypes exhibiting enhanced resistance that mitigates the impact of corn stunt on plant mortality. These results indicate the potential for selective breeding efforts to identify and propagate genotypes that exhibit lower susceptibility to premature death under high disease pressure.