Corn: Pythium Stalk Rot

Excerpt from Agronomy Guide for Field Crops (Chapter 3)

Order OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide for Field Crops

Table of Contents

1. Appearance and Disease Cycle
2. Updates on Corn: Pythium Stalk Rot
3. Related links...

Appearance and Disease Cycle

Pythium stalk rot gives the same general above-ground symptoms that are associated with the other stalk rot organisms. Pythium is in a unique group of fungi (that also includes Phytophthora) that are called "oomycetes" or "water moulds" because of their preference for wet conditions. The unique characteristic feature of this group of fungi is their production of mobile spores that can migrate or move through the water film in saturated soils. These spores (infection stage) are able to physically move to the corn plants roots and, once inside, cause disease. Corn plants infected with Pythium will not have any visible signs of fungal growth at the base of the plant that is different from the other stalk rots that produce overwintering structures (black dots) or mould. When the plant is cut lengthwise through the stalk base and roots, Pythium-infected tissue will appear wet and soggy and will disintegrate ("a wet rot") at the root base.

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Updates on Corn: Pythium Stalk Rot

No updates available at this time.

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Related links...

• Diseases
• Corn
• Field Crop Protection Guide - Publication 812

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