Corn Disease

Gibberella and fusarium stalk rots in corn

Stalk Quality Concerns Widespread in Areas of Nebraska

September 27, 2019
The effects of late planting and stressful growing conditions throughout much of the season are showing up now in poor stalk quality in corn. Growers are encouraged to scout fields and harvest those most at risk of lodging first. Here's why and what to look for.

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While mold sclerotia in a soybean stem

Crop Disease Reports from the UNL Diagnostic Clinic

September 13, 2019
Diseases of corn, soybean, sorghum and alfalfa diagnosed by the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in the last two weeks.

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Psysoderma brown spot

PP&DC Disease Reports

August 9, 2019
Corn and soybean diseases confirmed by the Plant, Pest and Diagnostic Clinic and reported by district.

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Southern rust on a corn leaf

Southern Rust of Corn Confirmed in Southeast Nebraska

July 16, 2020
Southern corn rust was confirmed on corn leaf samples from Fillmore, Nuckolls and Johnson counties in southern Nebraska this week. Warm, humid conditions may favor disease development, so fields in this area should be monitored frequently in the coming weeks.

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Corn seedling exhibiting disease symptoms

New CW Podcast on Corn Seedling Diseases

May 8, 2019
Michael Sindelar talks with Extension Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson-Ziems about common corn seedling diseases, what to watch for in the field, and how to collect and submit quality samples for diagnosis.

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Map of bacterial leaf streak distribution in Nebraska

Corn Disease Update

January 9, 2019

The 2018 crop season got off to a slow start with cold, wet conditions delaying planting in much of the state. Some seedling diseases developed in early planted corn, but with ample heat units the corn caught up quickly and most of the crop finished ahead of schedule. High relative humidity and rainfall drove the development of several leaf diseases mid-season.

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Left photo showing corn stalk breakage from Gibberela stalk rot and right photo showing corn stalk damage from Fusarium stalk rot.
(L-R) Figure 1. Lodging and stalk breakage, as well as stalk discoloration, are symptoms of stalk rot diseases. (Photo by Terra Hartman) Figure 2. Stalk rot diseases commonly cause discoloration of the stalks and degradation of the white pith between vascular bundle strands. (Photo by Kyle Broderick)

Stalk Rot Diseases in Nebraska Corn Fields

September 13, 2018
Knowing the risk factors for stalk rot can help you evaluate those fields first and prioritize your harvest schedule accordingly. Submitting plant samples and determining which stalk rot is present can help you better prevent or manage it in future years.

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Map showing the 70 counties where bacterial leaf streak has how been confirmred.
Bacterial leaf streak has now been confirmed in corn in 70 Nebraska counties.

Crop Disease Update

August 10, 2018
Plant pathologists report on the corn and soybean diseases they're seeing. Bacterial leaf streak has now been confirmed in 70 counties and Southern rust was confirmed in three more counties.

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