Corn Stewart s Wilt Corn Stewart s Wilt Stewart s disease of corn, or Stewart s wilt, caused by the Erwinia stewartii . Stewart s disease is generally more destructive on sweet corn than popcorn or dent corn, but some hybrids and inbred lines of popcorn and field corn are very susceptible. Symptoms Symptoms of Stewart s disease most commonly and initially appear as leaf lesions originating from flea beetle feeding scars.
Lesions begin as pale-green to yellow streaks extending along leaf veins.
Margins of the lesions become water-soaked and irregular or wavy. Lesions may extend the entire length of the leaf in susceptible lines or only 1-2 inches in resistant hybrids. As the disease progresses, the lesions turn necrotic and become dry and brown. Entire leaves may be blighted as lesions coalesce. In severe cases, yield can be significantly reduced and the diseased plants may become more susceptible to stalk and root rots.