Gibberella Stalk Rot
Symptoms
- Pith of the inner stalk may deteriorate leaving only the vascular bundles intact
- The vascular bundles will appear reddish in color
- Small black specks develop on the stalk surface near the nodes and can be scraped off with fingernail
Pathogen Involved
- Gibberella zeae (=Fusarium graminaerum) (a fungus)
- A common stalk-rotting pathogen in the Midwestern U.S.
- Can also infect wheat, barley, oat, or rye and causes scab and seedling blights
Time of Occurrence
- Infection occurs after pollination
- Infection may occur on the leaf sheath, brace roots, or roots and continue up into the lower stem.
Conditions Favoring Disease
- Warm and wet weather
- Insect injury
- Environmental stress and other diseases
Disease Management
- Use resistant commercial corn hybrids.
- Maintain balanced fertility
- Plant the proper plant population.
- Reduce plant stress.
- Control stalk-boring insects.