Fusarium Ear Rot

Overview

Fusarium ear rot is a fungal disease triggered by the pathogen Fusarium verticillioides. This fungus, which primarily targets corn kernels, can lead to an overall decrease in yield and grain quality.

While Fusarium ear rot primarily targets the kernels, it can also damage other parts of the corn plant. The stalks may become weak and prone to lodging, while the leaves may show signs of premature senescence.

The infection can interfere with the plant's normal metabolic processes, leading to reduced photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, resulting in stunted growth and reduced yield. Additionally, the mycotoxins produced by the Fusarium verticillioides fungus can harm the plant's health and vitality. These toxic compounds can disrupt the plant's cellular functions, causing further damage and stress.


How to Identify Fusarium Ear Rot

Fusarium ear rot presents as a white to pink or salmon-colored mold on the corn kernels. The mold typically starts at the ear tip and progresses towards the base. Infected kernels may appear bleached or display a starburst pattern, with white streaks radiating from the kernel center.

Aside from visible mold and discoloration, Fusarium ear rot can be identified by the presence of mycotoxins, specifically fumonisin. These toxic compounds can pose a significant threat to livestock if consumed in large quantities.

While visible signs provide an initial indication, laboratory testing offers the most reliable method to confirm Fusarium ear rot. This process involves analyzing infected kernel samples for the presence of the Fusarium verticillioides fungus and its associated mycotoxins.

Geographic Impact of Fusarium Ear Rot

Fusarium ear rot is a global issue, affecting corn crops in many parts of the world. However, it is more prevalent in regions with warm and humid climates, such as the southern United States and parts of Africa and Asia.

Timing of Fusarium Ear Rot

Fusarium ear rot typically manifests in the late growing season, particularly during the corn's reproductive stages. Stress conditions such as drought, insect damage or poor nutrition can exacerbate the disease.

How to Manage Fusarium Ear Rot in Corn

To manage this fungal disease, our experts recommend GCS Azoxyprop at silking — corn growth stage R1.

The timing of fungicide application can be very difficult. Fusarium ear rot, also known as Gibberella, can also lead to mycotoxins in the grain. Fungicides can help reduce infection and prevent mycotoxin accumulation.

If a farmer intends to store grain themselves, and has some infected grains, they should take care to keep the moisture level in the grain bins below 13% to prevent further accumulation of mycotoxins.

Disclaimer

© 2014 - 2023 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights Reserved. The sprout logo, “Farmers Business Network”, “FBN”, “FBN Direct” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. This content was written by Norm℠, reviewed and edited by Mikaela Tierney.

This content was generated with the assistance of Norm℠, FBN’s artificial intelligence (AI) Ag Advisor, based on a dataset of information containing general industry best practices and research. The AI model did not use specific external sources to generate this content. Our process involves using AI to aid human subject matter experts with the initial drafting and/or refinement of content.

Every product that labels FUSARIUM EAR ROT as a weed, pest, or disease the product can be applied against is shown below. Click any product for label and more information.
Miravis® NeoOxiDate® 5.0Proline® 480 SCProzio™ SCReckoning Fungicide