Keith called me to tell me about his new quick test for Goss's Wilt. "Pull the ear leaf off with the ear. Instead of the normally white tissue, look for tannish, discolored tissue. If the disease has advanced, it will stink becayse if the amalayse sugars fermenting at the base of the ear. Many fields have double ears again this year and if the disease is advanced, the second ear will be similar to the first ear as the plant as accumulated too many sugars it cannot use.
You can verify with a quick test kit and then have that verified at a University Plant Pathology Lab like Nebraska's or Michigan State's labs. 90% of these samples have tested positive for Goss's or similar wilts in corn this year.
"Goss’s wilt of corn often is most severe after fields are exposed to high winds
and/or hail damage, because the causal bacterium, Clavibacter
michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis, readily infects corn leaves
through wounds. With the recent storm activity across the state, growers should
be on the lookout for the appearance of Goss’s wilt symptoms. Goss’s wilt
lesions on the leaves generally have wavy margins with a water-soaked appearance
on the edges of the lesions. Dark spots, known as “freckles”, almost always can
be found within the lesions. The affected areas of the leaves will have a shiny
appearance when observed in the sunlight, and bacterial exudates may be on the
leaves that resemble drops of maple syrup"
"The causal agent is Clavibacter michiganensis subsp.
nebraskensis and is one of only several plant diseases caused by a Gram
positive bacterium. The pathogen can cause two major types of symptoms, a
systemic wilt and leaf blight. The leaf blight phase of the disease is the most
common and can cause the development of lesions with wavy margins similar to
some other diseases. Two characteristics can be used to distinguish it from
other diseases. The first identifiable characteristic is the development of dark
green to black discontinuous water-soaked spots, sometimes called ‘freckles’
because of their appearance (photo), near the edges of expanding lesions. The
bacteria can also create an exudate or ‘ooze’ on the surfaces of the leaf which
is the second identifiable characteristic. When dried the exudate may glisten
and appear shiny on the leaf surface similar to varnish (photo). The disease can
also have a systemic wilt phase in which the bacteria infect the vascular system
and move within the plant. Infection may cause discoloration of the
water-conducting elements (photo) and eventually a slimy stalk rot that can lead
to wilting and plant death (photo).
Watch that word clavibacter. I've read and heard it too many times in gmo vs. non gmo discussions.
If we don't figure out how to combat the potential massive problems in crop production, we will have less to ship to our buyers. Who do you sell to? One of my buyers is CGB, one company I am not afraid to DP to. Their financial statement is probably the best in the business. I didn't know whether you get their newsletter or not but many of you farm near the locations they buy grain from.
Walk your fields and tell me what you find. I haven't heard from many of you. I think when the price dropped $2 everyone said the heck with their corn fields.
Ed
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Mr. Winkle, I just want to say that I really enjoy reading your blog and have gained a lot of knowledge from it and your posts on agtalk. I am currently a student at OSU ATI majoring in crop management and aspire to someday know half of what you know in crop production.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking time to educate the younger generation,
Jonathan.
Wow, Jonathan, that is what keeps me thinking and typing!
ReplyDeleteOSU ATI was very good for my oldest son Matt and many of his friends and my former students. Matt is a better ag teacher than his dad ever was at Fayetteville High School. I can't believe he started his 13th year of teaching!
Ed Winkle