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Kansas corn hit by stunt disease outbreak

Kansas corn hit by stunt disease outbreak


By Scout Nelson

Kansas State University (K-State) plant pathologists and entomologists have confirmed the first known case of corn stunt disease in Kansas. This follows reports of the disease in Oklahoma and Missouri. As of August 29, corn stunts have been found in corn fields in several Kansas counties, including Sedgwick, Pratt, Stafford, and Edwards. Sweet corn in Riley County has also been affected.

K-State row crop plant pathologist Rodrigo Onofre noted that while the incidence of disease is currently low, leafhoppers, which spread the disease, have been identified in other areas of central and southwest Kansas.

The disease stunts corn plants, leading to the production of small ears with missing kernels and red-tinted leaves. Onofre urges farmers to submit samples of suspected corn stunt to the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab for proper diagnosis.

Corn stunt disease is spread by the corn leafhopper, which has also been recently detected in Kansas. K-State entomologist Anthony Zukoff released a video to help farmers identify and collect leafhopper samples, available online.

Although corn stunt spiroplasma has been the only pathogen detected in Kansas so far, more research is underway to investigate other potential pathogens spread by leafhoppers.

For more information on corn stunt disease and related concerns, farmers can visit K-State’s Agronomy e-Update newsletter or contact their local extension agent. Additional questions about the corn leafhopper can be directed to K-State entomologists or plant pathologists.

Photo Credit:kansas-corn

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Categories: Kansas, Crops, Corn, General

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