Crop Diseases Reported by the UNL Plant and Pest Clinic

Starburst pattern on Fusarium-infected corn kernels
Figure 1. This starburst pattern on corn kernels is indicative of fusarium disease. (Photos by Kyle Broderick)

Crop Diseases Reported by the UNL Plant and Pest Clinic

The week of October 21 I will be attending the Great Plains Diagnostic Network Regional Meeting in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic will be operating at partial capacity until Monday, October 28. Samples may still be submitted, but turnaround time will be delayed.  All samples submitted to the clinic during this time will be stored under refrigerated conditions to maintain quality until the samples can be processed.

Map of Nebraska crop reporting districts
Figure 1. Reporting districts

The following diseases were reported in samples submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab from October 1 to October 17.

Soybean

East District – Phytophthora root and stem rot, stem canker, fusarium root and crown rot, anthracnose, pod and stem blight, charcoal rot

Southeast District – Bacterial blight, frogeye leaf spot, anthracnose, pod and stem blight, charcoal rot, fusarium root and crown rot

Northeast District – White mold, fusarium root and crown rot, anthracnose, pod and stem blight, charcoal rot

Central District – White mold

Photos of two corn ears, one with aspergillus and the other with gibberella ear rot
Figure 2 (L). Aspergillus ear rot: A gray-green mold often starts at the tip of the ear or is associated with injury to the ear
Figure 3 (R). Gibberella ear rot: Red/pink fungal growth typically starts at the tip of the ear

Corn

Southeast District – Anthracnose stalk rot, aspergillus ear rot, gibberella ear rot, fusarium ear rot, penicillium ear rot

South District Anthracnose stalk rot, gibberella ear rot, fusarium ear rot

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A field of corn.