Insight into three putative Cercospora zeina effector genes and the role they play in virulence

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays) is globally considered as an important cereal crop, and a major staple food in developing countries such as Africa (WARD et al. 1999). In South Africa, maize is considered the most important grain crop as it is the main feed grain used for animals and a staple food for the population (FAO 2012). Maize can also be used for the production of maize-based ethanol, which can be used as a bio-fuel. In the USA, approximately 40% (11 million tonnes) of maize produced in 2012 was used for the production of bio-fuel (FAO 2012). Maize production in Africa was estimated to be less than two and on average 1.4 tons per hectare and remains below world average (FAO 2012). It was expected that South African crop production would decrease by approximately six percent during the 2012/2013 growing season as droughts during February and March 2013 in the North West and Free State provinces led to below-average maize yields in these production areas (FAO 2012; USDA 2013). Over the last few years maize production output has not been increasing together with the increasing population growth rate and thus puts pressure on commercial farmers to produce more maize for food security purposes and economical growth. The FAO states that agricultural production still needs to increase by up to 60% (80% in developing countries) within the next four years to be able to cope with an estimated global population growth of 39% by 2050.