Therefore, anthracnose is more severe where corn follows corn and infected residues are left on the soil surface. Anthracnose stalk rot has been recorded in fields where no debris was left on the surface and there is evidence that the fungus may survive, to some extent, as resting spores in the soil, but the greatest spread of this disease is from infected corn residues on the soil surface. Management of anthracnose stalk rot is through the use of resistant hybrids, crop rotation, or clean, deep plowing of crop residues. Use of resistant hybrids in combination with crop rotation is usually highly effective Pythium Stalk Rot. Pythium stalk rot is a rare disease usually confined to bottom lands or lower portions of a field.
Infection occurs only under extended, hot, humid conditions.
3 Twisted and collapsed tissues on the lower internodes of stalks are characteristics of the rare Pythium stalk rot. The stalks may twist, distort, and fall over. Infected plants remain green and turgid up to several weeks after lodging because the vascular bundles remain intact. Soil-Borne Stalk Rots Diplodia Stalk Rot. Symptoms of Diplodia stalk rot generally do not occur until several weeks after silking.