David Owens, Extension Entomologist, owensd@udel.edu
From Nancy Gregory:
Anthracnose leaf spot on corn is common in early summer. Symptoms include small elongate oval leaf spots on leaves, often with a yellow border or halo. Leaf spots first appear on lower leaves, and enlarge and coalesce, leading to a blighted look. Anthracnose will spread to stalks, causing a late season stalk rot. We have seen some younger plants with stalk rot due to anthracnose this season, exhibiting a water-soaked brown stem rot. The causal fungus overwinters in crop debris and is favored by wet weather due to spread of spores by rain splash. Resistant hybrids are available. For more information, see the UD factsheet: http://extension.udel.edu/factsheets/anthracnose-leaf-blight-and-stalk-rot-of-corn/.
