Figure 1. Scout corn stands for intermittent gaps indicating missing or lost plants as well as diseased or dead plants.
Prolonged wet conditions have promoted development of more seedling diseases in corn fields across Nebraska. Seedling diseases have developed in the typical wet, heavy clay soils, but also in hilltops in sandy fields, so don’t ignore them when monitoring plant populations and stand establishment. The frequency of plants with seedling diseases has varied widely from field to field, ranging from a very low percentage of affected plants to higher numbers.
Producers and crop consultants should watch for intermittent gaps between plants indicating missing or lost plants, as well as patches of dead or symptomatic plants. Diseased seedlings can show one or more symptoms:
Rotted seed prior to germination
Rotted or discolored seedlings after germination prior to emergence
Post-emergence seedling damping off
Root or hypocotyl decay
Plant discoloration and/or stunting
The author discusses corn seeding diseases on the June 3, 2016 Market Journal.
Figures 2a. Post-emergence damping off, root rot, and lesions were found this week in corn seedlings in sandy soils as well as the more typical clay soils.
