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Prepare Now for Northern Corn Leaf Blight

June 6, 2017
This agronomic image shows corn leaf infected by northern corn leaf blight.

In recent years, Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) has become a more prevalent disease within the Corn Belt, and growers should be aware this season.

According to Purdue University, the NCLB fungus survives through the winter on infected corn residue at the soil’s surface. As temperatures rise in the spring and early summer, the fungus produces spores on this residue, which are then splashed or wind-blown onto leaves of emerging corn.

With a mild winter and wet spring, NCLB will likely be an issue this year if we see a warm, humid summer.

NCLB can cause significant yield loss if it develops prior to or during silking. The earlier NCLB infects a plant, the higher the potential for yield loss.

Identifiers:

  • Olive green or black fungal spores
  • Long, narrow lesions down the leaf
  • Oblong lesions on the leaf tissue

Although scouting is a crucial component to maximizing yield, plants can be infected up to 12 days before symptoms begin to show. Syngenta encourages growers to treat proactively in regions that have been effected by NCLB in past years.

Applying a fungicide before NCLB develops is the most effective way to avoid damage that could hinder photosynthesis. Syngenta recommends growers apply Trivapro®  fungicide for preventive and curative disease control to maximize yield and profit potential this season.

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