There is limited hybrid resistance to these diseases and predicting damage is difficult until later in the growing season. Corn plants are more prone to snapping during the rapid elongation stage of growth between V8 and tasseling. When soil moisture and temperature conditions are favorable corn plants elongate rapidly but stalks are brittle. Stalk brittleness is greatest in rapidly growing corn under high temperature and high soil moisture conditions. There is speculation that rapidly growing plants because there has been little time for plants to develop lignified tissues at the nodes.
Green snap is a more serious problem in the western Corn Belt.
In Nebraska, green snap has caused major stand losses. Vulnerability to green snap damage varies among hybrids. However, all hybrids are at risk from such wind injury when they are growing rapidly prior to tasseling. Based on studies in 1993 and 1994, Nebraska researchers observed that green snap often occurred on the most productive fields with the highest yield potential. The use of growth regulator herbicides such as 2,4-D or Banvel is also associated with stalk brittleness, especially if late application or application during hot, humid conditions occur.