Downy Mildew

Northern corn leaf blight is caused by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum, teleomorph Setosphaeria turcica. Both the common name and causal organism have several synonyms. Host of E. turcicum include corn, sorghum, Sudangrass, Johnsongrass, gamagrass and teosinte. E. turcicum is divided into 3 races and infection of hosts from different genera and species is dependent on the race. In addition, two biotypes have been identified from maize. The fungus overwinters as mycelium, conidia and chlamydospores in and on plant debris. Spores are windblown or splashed by rain from plant debris to the current season crop. Conidiospores of E. turcicum have a slightly protruding hilum which aids in identification of the fungus. The conidiospores germinate and penetrate leaf tissue directly or through stomata. Infection occurs when free moisture is present on the leaf surface.

Symptoms

Plant Health Management

Resistant Hybrids

Residue Management

References

Agrios,G.N.1988. Plant Pathology (3rd ed.) Academic Press, Inc., San Diego. pp 359- 356.


Nyvall, R.F.1989. Field Crop Diseases Handbook (2nd ed.). Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York. pp.124-25.

Schurtleff, M.C. (ed.). 1980. Compendium of Corn Diseases (2nd ed.). American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, pp.17-18.

Useful Links

North Carolina State University

Texas A&M University

Caveat

Material contained on the Links from the page are the responsibility of the linked page's author(s).

Questions, Comments, Complaints and Complements?

This page was drafted by: Jane Christensen, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Disease images were provided given by: Dr. David Wysong, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

This page is maintained by:

Dr. J.E. Partridge, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

jpartridge1@unl.edu Home Page

Copyright (C) 2008 J.E. Partridge, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. All Rights Reserved.