The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1910-10-12
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CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK
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During the past two years there
seems to have been gradual increase
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 trouble is due
to fungus disease known as dry rot
or ear rot of corn. In one field re-
Gently investigated I'm Darlington
county we found 20 per cent. of the
ears destroyed by It's disease. Re-
ports have come i'm from other sections
showing that the disease is wide
spread end is causing considerable
damage. Now any disease that in
pures our corn crop is of vital inter
est, and every farmer should know
enough about such a disease to enable
him to recognize it when he comes i'm
contact with 1t, and to enable him to
combat 1t where it causes loss. 1t is
hoped that at least part of such
knowledge will be gained from this
article
Symptoms of TIE disease are very
characteristic. AT the time the corn
begins to ripen, the husks on the dis
eased ears turn permatureIy yellow.
Later. they assume a mottled or black
ish 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 in
mature and the ear will be noticeably
decreased in weight. Later, the grains
appear very brittle and frequently as
sumo brownish color. At this stage
the whole ear is usually overrun with
white looking mold. When the dis
eased ears are broken across, small
black fruiting bodies of the fungus
Will be found on the tips of the gains
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 Ex-
pertinent stations show that the fun
gus lives over winter on the diseased
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. If the weather conditions are
fn"ur2Sle for the development of the
fungus at this stage the disease
spreads very rapidly. At the Illinois
station the fungus mas been found to
live on the old corn stalks in the
field for two years, ami III some cases
for three years They recommend that
the corn stalks be removed from the
field and destroyed and that rota
tion be practiced which will keep corn
off of the land for two years. 1t seems
that such measures would eliminate
the disease. have in mind one case.
In this State, however. where the dis
ease has done considerable damage,
In the face OF such rotation, so it
seems that some further data are needL
ed before we can give definite mea-
sures for controlling the disease I'm
this connection II is well to keep i'm
mind the fact that removing the corml
stalks from the field eliminates one of
the principal sources of infection for'I
the next season. This emphasizes the
advantage to be gained by cutting and
shredding 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 ths investigation now and
are asking that every one who has the .
disease in his field will write us about /
it and send us specimens. We have /
on hand Il number of franked tags |
which wiz bring specimens through |
the mali free of cost. and we will be !
glad to send these to anyone desiring,
to send such specimens. Where cases .
seem to, warrant it, we will be glad |
to visit fields where the disease is
causing trouble and look into the con-
ditions prevailing there.
III. w. Barre. BOtanist,
s. G.. Experiment Station.