CORN

Disease Name: Diplodia Ear Rot

Pathogen: Fungus. Diplodia maydis
Symptoms: Infection usually starts at the base of the ear or from the stalk into the shank.
White mycelial growth covers the kernels and pycnidia may be found on rotted kernels,
husks adhere tightly, infected ears remain erect when infection occurs early in ear
development.
Conditions: Dry weather prior to silking, followed by wet conditions within first 30 days
after silking.
Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (seed, cobs, ear shanks, stalks), soil.
Inoculum Dispersal: Airborne spores.
Management: Resistant hybrids, crop rotation, clean plowing, harvest early to prevent
weathering. Dry corn to 15% moisture content and below to prevent further mold growth in
storage.

CORN
Disease Name: Gibberella Ear Rot
Pathogen: Fungus. Gibberella zeae
Symptoms: Reddish mold that usually starts at the tip of the ear. Husks may adhere tightly
to the ear (hybrid dependent).
Conditions: Cool wet weather within first 21 days after silking favors the development of
this disease.
Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (stalks, seed), infected seed, soil.
Inoculum Dispersal: Airborne spores.
Management: Resistant hybrids, crop rotation, harvest early to prevent continued mold
growth in the field, clean plowing. Dry corn to 15% moisture content and below to prevent
further mold growth in storage.

CORN
Disease Name: Fusarium Ear Rot
Pathogen: Fungus. Fusarium moniliforme
Symptoms: Seldom involves whole ear, rot usually occurs at tip of ear or in scattered areas
on ear, color of fungal mycelium around infected kernels varies from white to faint pink to
reddish brown. Infected kernels vary in color from light to dark brown.
Conditions: Dry, warm weather. Infection occurs through injury by insects or environmental
stress.

Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (stalks, seeds), infected seed, soil.
Inoculum Dispersal: Airborne spores.
Management: Resistant hybrids (avoid sowing hybrids with weak seed coats or poor husk
cover), crop rotation, clean plowing, harvest grain early, dry corn to 15% moisture content
and below to prevent further mold growth in storage.

CORN
Disease Name: Aspergillus Ear Rot
Pathogen: Fungi. Aspergillus flavus, A. glaucus, A. niger
Symptoms: Aspergillus niger appears as a black mold on infected kernels. A. flavus is a
greenish-yellow mold growing on damaged kernels. A. glaucus is a greenish mold.
Conditions: A. flavus is more common in Indiana following hot, dry weather, injury by
drought stress and insect damage. Mold growth in storage when moisture is higher than
18%. A. flavus can produce a carcinogenic secondary metabolite known as aflatoxin.
Inoculum Survival: Infected plant residue, infected seed, soil.
Inoculum Dispersal: Airborne spores.
Management: In storage, controlled by drying corn to a moisture content below 15% as
soon after harvest as possible. In the field, avoid insect or mechanical damage to ears.