Corn Disease Management

NCH 4 Revised April 1993 Despite signifi cant progress made over the years, disease is still a major factor limiting corn production in the U.S. Estimates of annual yield losses in corn due to disease range from 7 to 20 percent nationally (Shurtleff, 1980). Using a 12 percent average, that’s nearly 1 billion bushels. Without the development of new hybrids, the losses would easily be more than double the current levels. Control of some diseases may be achieved by a single procedure, while control of others requires the application of several strategies, including the integrated use of environmental, genetic, cultural, and chemical methods. This publication deals broadly with the various aspects of disease management in corn production. Discussed are (1) the disease triangle, (2) considerations in assessing the need for disease control, (3) the range of potential control measures, and where they best apply, and (4) the major categories of corn diseases and common control alternatives for each.