2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
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 storage of the harvested ears, especially if the storage conditions are accompanied by insufficient aeration and very high humidity
A few words about the disease
When the milky phase ends and the waxy ripeness phase begins, a pale pink mushroom bloom, which is a combination of fungal conidia and mycelium, begins to form on the ears of corn attacked by fusarium. If it is too thick, the caryopses will gradually begin to break down. Sometimes the defeat of corn cobs can manifest itself in the form of a peculiar pattern, reminiscent of little white rays. In general, the degree of damage to the ears depends on the intensity of the development of fusarium.
If the disease develops strongly enough, pathogen plaque can easily cover the whole corn cobs, and with high humidity it can form on their wrappers. Infected caryopses acquire a dirty brown hue and lose their former luster. At the same time, some of the kernels in infected ears that are outside the fusarium foci are also infected, even though there are no visible signs of damage on them. With the subsequent sowing, such grains can easily provoke the re-development of a harmful misfortune.
The grains, which are struck with particular force, easily crumble, break and quickly collapse - often this situation can be observed during the threshing of infected ears. Often on one ear, there are from fifteen to thirty destroyed kernels. If the conditions for the development of Fusarium are very favorable, the affected areas increase markedly in size. And on the falling dry grains, you can often observe brownish specks or a bloom of pale pink shades that looks like scabs.
All infected ears are of rather low commercial quality and are quickly destroyed by molds at the harvesting stage. Severely damaged seeds lose their germination, and those seeds in which the embryos have survived give very weak sprouts. Such seedlings die before they reach the soil surface.
Post-harvest corn residues and seeds are considered the main sources of infection. The weevils that have been damaged by insects are usually more susceptible to infection. Especially serious outbreaks of this disease are observed with a significant increase in the number of various pests (corn moth and others).
The fungus, the causative agent of fusarium on the cob, which is called F. moniliforme, is capable of producing fumonisins - the so-called mycotoxins that have a carcinogenic effect on animals and humans and are subject to strict control over their content in corn kernels. And a fusarium fungus can develop with a fairly solid temperature range - from three to thirty degrees.
How to fight
The main protective measures against corncob fusarium are the elimination of infected ears from the areas, taking active measures to combat various insects damaging corncobs and autumn plowing of the soil, accompanied by the removal of plant corn residues. Pre-sowing seed dressing plays an equally important role. The cobs sent for storage must be provided with optimal conditions (temperature, aeration and humidity). The premises must be dry and the aeration must be sufficient. In addition, it is necessary to completely exclude the appearance of any insects in these rooms. And before storing corn kernels, the strictest control over the content of mycotoxins is required.
Perhaps the most radical and effective method of combating corncob fusarium is the creation of resistant corn hybrids and their subsequent cultivation.
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