Alfalfa

Anthracnose Leaf Blight, Top Die-Back and Stalk Rot in Corn

Anthracnose in corn has a leaf blight phase and a stalk rot phase. Top-die back is a significant symptom of the stalk rot phase. The leaf blight is an indicator that the pathogen is present in the field, but does not confirm that the stalk rot phase will be an issue. The stalk rot phase is of greater concern than the leaf blight phase in terms of potential yield loss. The majority of lost yield potential from anthracnose can be attributed to premature plant death that interrupts filling of the grain, and stalk breakage and lodging that causes harvest loss and complications. Early identification of anthracnose can help prioritize fields for harvest, which can help minimize loss at harvest.

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