**4.3 Post flowering stalk rot (PFSR)**

The disease was first reported in 1957 from Mount Abu area of Rajasthan in India that time the disease was in traces. In recent years the severity of the disease has been increased and become an important disease, since then maize workers are quite concerned with this disease. The disease (**Figure 3**) is favored by high soil temperature (30°C-42°C) coupled with dry climatic condition. The fungi *Macrophomina phaseolina*, *Fusarium verticilloides* and *Cephalosporium* are collectively responsible for this disease**.** These soil-borne pathogens are favored by early spring climatic conditions when dry and slightly hot condition prevails, therefore the disease severity increases in Indian subcontinent when temperature start rising in dry weather condition. The disease is more common in hot and dry growing conditions [38]. The water stress at flowering and high soil temperature increases disease severity [39].
