Southern Corn Leaf Blight and Stalk Rot

Caused by the fungus Bipolaris maydis. As the genus name hints, there are two races of this pathogen. Race O and Race T. Race O only attacks leaves. Race T attacks leaves as well as the rest of the plant. The types also create different color and shape lesions from each other.

Race O lesions are tan in color with reddish-brown margins and are relatively rectangular in shape.

Race T lesions on leaves have a reddish-brown margin possibly surrounded by a chlorotic zone and are rectangular to elliptical in shape.

Stalk and leaf infections initially appear as purple spots that develop tan-gray centers. Ear infections result in a gray-black lesion on the husk that extends into the kernels, appearing as a black felt-like mold. Seedlings from infected kernels are often blighted.

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