**2.3 Major pathogens of maize**

*Fusarium* species are among the most common fungal pathogens causing diseases in maize. This genus is ubiquitous in nature and contains various toxigenic species, with *F. graminearum* and *F. verticillioides* being the most commonly found pathogens in maize. They infect several parts of maize at any stage of development, processing and storage thereby reducing maize quality and production yields. They do produce mycotoxins (fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone.) that are poisonous to man when consumed [43, 44].
