Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-10-04
CORN EAR ROT.
Clemson Is Investigating and Needs
Assistance of the Farmers,

During the past two years there
seems to have been q gradual in
crease In the amount Of damaged or
rotten corn in the fields throughout
the state. Investigations started last
fall and continued this summer show
that the large majority Of this trou-
BILE Is due to a fungus disease known
as dry rot or ear rot of corn. In one
field recently Investigated in Darling
ton county we found twenty per cent
of the ears destroyed by this disease.
Reports have come in from other sec
tions showing that the disease Is
widespread and Is causing consider
able damage. Now any disease that
Injuries our corn crop Is Of vital inter-
est. and every farmer should know
enough about such a disease to en-
able him to recognize 1t when he
comes in contact with 1t, and to en-
able him to combat 1t where 1t causes
loss. 1t is hoped that at least part
of such knowledge will be gained
from this article.
Symptoms OF the disease are very
characteristic. At the time the corn
begins to ripen, the husks on the dis
eased ears turn prematurely yellow.
Later, they assume a mottled or
blackish appearance and seem to
stick very close to the ears. When
the huSkS are pulled back from Such
ears, the grains will be found to be
shriveled and immature and the ear
will be noticeably decreased In weight,
Later, the grains appear very brittle
and frequently assume brownish
color. At this stage the whole ear Is
usually overrun with a white looking
mold. When the diseased ears are
broken across, small black fruiting
bodies OF the fungus will be found on
the tips of the grains and in the cob.
This rot Is caused by parasitic
fungus, Diplodea maydis. Studies OF
the life history Of the fungus recently
made at the Nebraska and Illinois
experiment stations show that the
fungus lives over winter on the dis
eased ears and stalks which are left
in the field. 1t spreads from these to
the new corn the following season at
the time the corn Is in silk and tassel.
The infection takes place through the
silks. II the weather conditions are
favorable for the development Of the
fungus at this stage the disease
spreads very rapidly. At the Illinois
station the fungus has been found to
live on the old corn stalks In the field
for two years, and In some cases three
years. They recommend that the corn
stalks be removed from the field and
destroyed and that rotation be prac-
ticed which will keep corn off Of the
land for two years. 1t seems that such
measures would eliminate the dis
ease. I have in mind one case in this
state. however. where the disease has
done considerable damage in the face
Of such rotation, so 1t seems that some
further data are needed before we
can give definite measures for con-
trolling the disease. In this connec-
ton 1t Is we'll to keep in mind the
fact that removing the corn stalks
from the field eliminates one OF the
principal sources of infection for the
next season. This emphasizes the adj
vantage to be gained by cutting and
shire iding the corn. AS stated above.
however, we need more data which
will apply to southern methods and
conditions. In order to secure such
information we need cooperation.
We are pushing this investigation
now and are asking that every one
who has the disease in his field will
write us about II and send us speci-
mems We have on hand a number
~ franked tags which will bring spec
linens through the mail free of cost,
and we VIII be glad to send these to
anyone desiring to send such speci-
mems Where cases seem to warrant
1t. We will be glad to visit fields where
the disease is causing trouble and
look into the conditions prevailing
there.
H. W. Barre. Botanist
S. c. Experiment Station.