This disease is especially a problem in the eastern portions of the corn belt. In Ohio, damage from Stewart's wilt varies from year to year, but severe blighting of leaves can be found in some fields each year. In sweet corn, severe damage results when infected seedlings wilt and die. Dent corn is more resistant than sweet corn and actual yield losses are low except when severe leaf blight occurs soon after tasseling on a high percentage of the plants in the field. Seedling wilt occurs on more susceptible dent corn hybrids or in fields with high populations of the corn flea beetle as seedlings emerge.
Greatest damage occurs in seasons following mild winters.
Mild winter temperatures favor the overwinter survival of the insect vector of the bacterial pathogen. Symptoms Young plants that become diseased usually wilt and die. Affected young plants develop yellow to white stripes on the lower leaves. These plants generally produce several tillers. The plants that do not die are stunted and usually produce no ears.