Corn Diseases of Ohio

Diplodia stalk rot

• Symptoms
  • lower internodes become brown near the nodes
  • internal pith darkens and disintegrates
  • stalks weaken and lodge
  • small black bodies (pycnidia) develop near lower nodes and scattered over internodes
• Environment
  • high rainfall in late summer with warm temperatures extending into early fall
• Survival
  • fungus survives on stalk residues
  • spores are spread by wind or splashing rain
• Management
  • resistant hybrids
  • balanced soil fertility
  • proper plant populations
  • full season hybrids
  • harvest before excessive lodging occurs
  • crop rotation
  • destroy corn residues
• Scouting