A Detailed Guide to the Latest Control Methods for Corn Ear Rot
Corn is a very important food crop in our country and is grown on a very large area worldwide. During cultivation, corn often suffers from pests and diseases that harm its growth and affect yield. Ear rot is one of them. Ear rot not only harms the growth of corn but can also have a major impact on human health. So what are the symptoms of corn ear rot? And how should it be controlled? Let's take a look together below!
1. Symptoms
Corn ear rot mainly harms the ears and kernels of corn. After the ear is infected, discoloration begins at the top and middle, showing various colors such as pink and dark gray, all of which are conidia produced by the ear rot pathogen. After the kernels are infected, they become dull and lusterless, shriveled and lacking moisture, and the inside of the kernels becomes hollow, containing a large amount of mycelium. The husks on diseased ears are also penetrated by large amounts of mycelium. They also stick to the ear and are not easy to peel off. Corn in storage is also susceptible, likewise showing conidia of various colors and accompanied by a musty smell.
2. Disease Pattern
Growth period: The ways ear rot spreads during the corn growth period differ depending on the pathogen. For example, Aspergillus mainly spreads through various pathogens, while Fusarium can spread through various media such as wind and rain. The conidia of the pathogen mainly become the primary infection source through seeds, diseased plant residues and weeds. They invade through wounds produced on the corn plant, and then the spores spread through wind, rain, etc. The suitable temperature for disease onset is 15-25 degrees, and the humidity is around 80%. Generally, the disease is most severe under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.
Storage period: Ear rot can also occur during the storage period of corn. If harvest is not timely after the corn matures, the incidence of ear rot will increase. Also, if rainy weather occurs after maturing in autumn, it is very likely to cause disease in the corn kernels. Another point is that if the corn is stored without being dried after harvest, it is also prone to disease. In addition, during the storage period, if it is not sealed and the temperature rises, it is also easy for pathogens to grow and trigger ear rot.
3. Control Methods
Before planting, we should do a good job of land preparation, deeply plow the soil, remove diseased plant residues and weeds from the soil, and then spray Bordeaux mixture and various other disinfectant solutions for disinfection to reduce the base number of pathogens in the soil. Then we should control the sowing time well, avoid planting too densely, do a good job of topdressing, advance the time of corn maturity, strengthen pest control work, and avoid wounds on the corn. Finally, after harvest, the corn should not be piled too thickly, and the husks on the plants should be removed in time to avoid rain and moisture. If diseased ears are found, they should be broken off in time to prevent the disease from spreading.
The above is a brief introduction to the control methods for corn ear rot. Ear rot can only be mainly prevented; there is no effective treatment method. Before sowing, do a good job of seed dressing and disinfection to solve the problem from the root. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!