Corn: Seed Rots and Seedling Blights

Excerpt from Chapter 1, Field Crop Protection Guide, Order this publication

Table of Contents

1. Integrated Pest Management Options
2. Related Links...

Integrated Pest Management Options

It is recommended that all seed corn be treated with a fungicide seed treatment to prevent early-season preemergence and postemergent damping-off problems. This will help reduce seed decay and seedling blights. Corn seedling diseases are prevalent under cool wet conditions that keep the soil temperatures below 13°C (55°F). Low-lying or poorly drained areas of the field are often the first to show disease problems. Seed rots and seedling blights are more severe in no-till or reduced-tillage fields since heavy residue will keep soil temperatures cooler and wetter longer than conventional fields. Damping-off will occur in conventional fields when the crop is planted early into conditions that favour disease development or when environmental conditions cause the corn seed to sit in the ground for a prolonged period of time. Other factors that delay germination and emergence, such as compaction, crusting, deep planting, etc., can also result in a poor stand. Plant vigour is often reduced in those plants that do survive.

Related Links...

• Agronomy Guide for Field Crops - Publication 811
  • Corn: Seed Rots and Seedling Blights
• Disease
• Corn