Crazy Top

Crazy top is caused by the soil borne fungus, Sclerophthora macrospora . This fungus attacks all types of corn and a number of wild grasses. After the fungus infects, it grows systemically within the plant and may be detected in all the above ground tissues of the diseased plant. Symptoms are proliferation of leafy structures from the tassel and/or ears. In many cases, leafy protrusions occur in only the ears resulting in a mass of strap-like leaves protruding from the ear zone. Affected plants may also have profuse tiller development.

During periods of flooding the oospores germinate and swimming spores (zoospores) are produced. The zoospores infect the growing point of the young corn plants usually before the second or third leaf stage. The fungus then grows systemically within the plant and develops in the rapidly growing tissues. The systemic growth causes a hormonal imbalance, which initiates the proliferation of leafy tissue in the tassels and ears.

Control

No highly effective control measures can be recommended for crazy top. Very little is known about the level of resistance in corn hybrids to this disease. Proper soil drainage will reduce the risk of flooding and subsequent infection. Avoid planting corn in low wet spots where the disease is known to occur. Seed applied fungicides will not control crazy top.

Feature Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Donec molestie. Sed aliquam sem ut arcu. Phasellus sollicitudin. Vestibulum condimentum facilisis nulla. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Nulla nonummy. Cras quis libero. Cras venenatis. Aliquam posuere lobortis pede. Nullam fringilla urna id leo. Praesent aliquet pretium erat. Praesent non odio. Pellentesque a magna a mauris vulputate lacinia. Aenean viverra. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos hymenaeos. Aliquam lacus. Mauris magna eros, semper a, tempor et, rutrum et, tortor.