Managing the Threat of Northern Corn Leaf Blight
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Northern corn leaf blight is an annual threat in cornfields from the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast, wherever environmental conditions are met. It spreads quickly from south to north, riding hurricane winds to infect new areas.
Many factors contribute to the risk of northern corn leaf blight damage. Climate, moisture, cropping system, timing, tillage practices and soil content should be taken into account when assessing fields for disease risk.
Timing
Late-planted corn is exposed to disease at vulnerable early growth stages and can suffer higher levels of infection. Significant yield loss can occur if leaf area is destroyed before grain fill is complete. Early infection allows secondary outbreaks, disease spread and leaf damage to create even greater yield losses.
Satellite imagery and scouting tools such as Granular Insight’s Directed Scouting and Threat ID can be used to catch and address early disease development
Management tips
Hybrids with partial resistance to northern corn leaf blight typically produce fewer, smaller lesions and fewer fungal spores. Hybrids with race-specific resistance display small yellow lesions and produce no spores. Lesions may appear on leaf sheaths and husks of susceptible hybrids.
Choose resistant corn varieties with your retailer, rotate crops, till fields to encourage decomposition of infected residue, and apply a fungicide preventively or, if necessary, curatively.
Tools like Granular's Directed Scouting and Threat ID can help with planning next season’s hybrids when used to track field observations, including the time, location and severity.
Impact on yield
Early season infection can have a serious impact on yield, with losses up to 30%.
Symptoms
Elliptical, gray to tan lesions on leaves. Lesions can be anywhere from 1 to 6 inches long. Symptoms tend to start on lower leaves.
Under high humidity, spores coating the lesions turn olive-green or black, giving leaves a dark or dirty appearance.
Conditions for development
- Moderate temperatures (65 F to 80 F), precipitation and high humidity create the optimal environment for northern corn leaf blight. Long periods of dew and overcast days can trap moisture in the crop canopy, encouraging infection. Strong winds and rain spread disease from soil to and among developing plants.
- Infection requires leaf surfaces to be wet for 6 to 18 hours.
- According to the University of Illinois, high nitrogen levels in the soil increase the risk of northern corn leaf blight.
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