2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Red rot of corn cobs most often develops if the air temperature drops noticeably closer to the stage of full ripeness of the kernels or it often rains. And the fungus causative agent of this disease is dangerous not only because it significantly reduces the yield of corn crops, but also because the toxins released by it can infect animals and people, provoking in them the development of the effect of neurotoxin (one of the types of damage to nerve cells)
A few words about the disease
On corn at the stage of milky-wax ripeness, an unpleasant plaque forms on the tops of the ears attacked by red rot, the color of which can vary from bright pink to white. Gradually, this plaque covers the entire cob. This is how red rot differs from other corn diseases, which usually affect individual parts of the ears.
As the misfortune develops, the wrappers begin to adhere tightly to the cobs, dry out and turn reddish-brick tones. The weevils attacked by the disease, as a rule, are completely destroyed, and in the case of an early defeat, they do not develop at all. If infected seeds are sown, they will not sprout.
The causative agent of red rot on corn cobs is a harmful fungus that secretes poisonous toxins. It is called Fusarium graminearum. This fungus is very aggressive and has the ability to infect healthy weevils on its own.
The fungus-pathogen is preserved in the form of stroma mainly on post-harvest residues: on the stalks near the nodules, on the ears of the ears and on the wrappers. Stromas can be either creeping or flat, and differ in completely different configurations. They all include ovoid or elliptical perithecia. In them, in turn, the formation of bags with pathogenic ascospores occurs, scattering around the site with the onset of spring. Often, these ascospores also infect winter crops.
It is noteworthy that the degree of damage to corn cobs by a harmful fungus-pathogen is completely independent of their damage by various insects. This is how red rot differs from fusarium.
Most often, this ill-fated ailment can be found in areas characterized by a temperate climate. Its development is facilitated to a large extent by the moderate temperature and prolonged wet weather established during the development of the ears. The lesions are especially strong if an impressive amount of precipitation falls in the second half of summer and in autumn.
How to fight
Among the main protective measures against red rot of corn cobs, seed treatment with fungicides can be distinguished (it is especially good to pickle seeds using the Ventsedor preparation), cultivation of resistant hybrids and varieties, reduction of the corn moth population on the site, as well as strict adherence to crop rotation rules. It is extremely important to pay attention to the predecessors in the crop rotation, since often the causative fungus infects wheat and some other cereals. Also, in no case should the application rate of nitrogen-containing fertilizers be exceeded. Well, other fertilizers should be applied in optimal quantities.
You need to try to collect the crop in a timely manner, and after harvesting the site, dig up thoroughly. The crop itself is sent for storage in dry rooms. Before storing, the ears can be treated with approved fungicides. And the ears attacked by red rot must be discarded, since they cannot be stored, because they are almost always excessively moist and moldy.
An equally important aspect is the competent storage of the seed cobs. The moisture content of such ears should not exceed 16%, while the moisture content of the grain should be within 13%.
Recommended:
Corn
© Sergii Telesh Latin name: Zea Family: Cereals Categories: Vegetable crops Corn (lat.Zea) - popular vegetable culture; an annual plant of the Cereals family. Characteristics of culture Corn is a herbaceous plant with a straight erect stem 50-300 cm high, reaching 5-7 cm in diameter.
Red Root Rot
Red rot, also called rhizoctonia and felt disease, is an ailment that affects beets, carrots, rutabagas, parsley, turnips and other root vegetables. The disease manifests itself mainly during harvesting, as well as at the stage of its storage. However, with its timely detection, it is possible to achieve good results in the fight against the disease
Sugar Corn
Sugar corn (lat.Zea saccharata) belongs to the Cereals family. For the first time they began to cultivate it in America, more precisely in the territory of modern Mexico. Excavations prove that this plant was one of the main ones in the diet of local residents.
Fusarium Blight Of Corn Cobs
Fusarium blight of corn cobs is most often found in regions with high humidity, where up to 50-60% of growing corn is often affected. This ill-fated disease almost always leads to a noticeable decrease in the volume of the crop, as well as to a significant deterioration in its quality, since the development of destructive fusarium does not stop even during the storage of the harvested ears, especially if the storage conditions are accompanied by insufficient aeration and very high humidity
Pitious Corn Root Rot
Pitious corn root rot is found wherever corn is grown. At the same time, it affects not only corn, but also most other grain crops. Most often, this scourge can be encountered on heavy soils and in areas with high humidity. Throughout the growing season, the energy of development and growth of crops attacked by this scourge is noticeably reduced, and tiny seedlings often die from damage to the root system. Pitious root rot manifests itself
