Lexington, KY 40546

Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1345
CORN -Recognizing Gosss Wilt on Corn - Efficacy Ratings for Corn Fungicides, 2013 Version TOBACCO

June 25, 2013

VEGETABLES

-Tomato Spotted Wilt on the Increase -Late Blight of Tomato Found in Kentucky
DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS

Disease Update for the Week of June 24

INSECT TRAP COUNTS

CORN Recognizing Gosss Wilt of Corn

By Paul Vincelli, Extension Plant Pathologist Gosss Wilt is an emerging bacterial disease of corn (dent corn, popcorn, sweet corn) in the Midwest. For decades, this disease has caused problems in several Plains states, especially in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. In the past few years, the disease has also been found in scattered fields in Indiana and Illinois, causing losses as high as 60 bu/acre. Although Kentucky may be too far south for serious outbreaks, it is worth keeping a watch out for this disease. Symptoms Infection of corn by the Gosss wilt bacterium (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis) produces death of leaf tissue. The disease results in long, tan spots of dead tissue anywhere on leaves. Infected leaves usually become blighted.

Figure 1. Goss's wilt of corn (photo by Alison Robertson, Iowa State University).

These symptoms can be confused with other diseases and disorders, such as Stewarts wilt or northern leaf blight. However, there are a few distinctive features to look for. The main symptom that distinguishes Gosss wilt from other problems is the presence of dark green, water-soaked flecks or freckles.

Figure 4. Stalk and leaf symptoms of systemic Goss's wilt. (Photo by Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org). Figure 2. Goss's wilt of corn, showing dark green flecks and "freckles." (photo by Carl Bradley, University of Illinois).

Suspect cases can be diagnosed through the University of Kentucky Plant Diagnostic Laboratories. Contact your county Extension agent for more information about sampling and testing.

Figure 3. Goss's wild of corn, showing dark green flecks and "freckles." (Photo by Alison Robertson, Iowa State University).

Also, when leaves are wet, one might be able to observe a cloudy bacterial exudate on diseased tissues. When these exudates dry, they leave a faint shiny cast on lesions that can be seen with reflected light. Infections can also occur in the stalk. Vascular infection often results in symptoms of leaf desiccation and premature plant death.
Figure 5. Stalk symptoms of systemic Goss's wilt. (Photo by Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org).

Management Notes The bacterium that causes Gosss wilt survives between seasons in infested corn residue. Therefore, the risk of disease is higher under conservation-tillage and/or continuous corn. Rotation of even one year away from corn reduces disease pressure substantially. Hybrids of yellow dent corn with resistance to Gosss wilt are available. The bacterium also is seed-transmitted. Seed producers may be required to obtain phytosanitary certificates for corn seed export. The bacterium is not insect-transmitted. Fungicides do not provide protection against a bacterial disease like Gosss wilt. Crops other than corn are not affected by this disease.

This table is a work in progress, so efficacy ratings are subject to change, should ongoing research indicate that changes are justifiable. In the meantime, these ratings may be useful to corn producers.

TOBACCO

Disease Update for the Week of June 24 By Kenny Seebold, Extension Plant Pathologist Current situation Summertime temperatures have settled in across Kentucky, and rainfall levels have been a little higher than normal in many areas. As a result, conditions have been pretty favorable for diseases and black shank, target spot, and frogeye leaf spot are becoming fairly active around the state. For black shank, posttransplanting applications of Ridomil Gold, Ultra Flourish, or MetaStar can be helpful so long as the tobacco variety that was planted has at least a moderate level of resistance to both races of the black shank pathogen. Make sure these products are applied to soil and incorporated by cultivation or irrigation (also rainfall), and that soil moisture levels are adequate before treating. The last time, according to product labels, to apply fungicides for black shank control is layby (last cultivation). Seeing target spot and frogeye this early into the growing season can mean that well have problems later if rainfall continues to be plentiful. Quadris fungicide, applied at 8 fl oz/A, has been shown to give reasonably good control of target spot if applied at least once at beginning around layby. A second application may be needed at topping to help with this disease if needed, and to suppress late-season frogeye leaf spot should that disease be active.

Efficacy Ratings for Corn Fungicides, 2013 Version

By Paul Vincelli, Extension Plant Pathologist

The Corn Disease Working Group has prepared an updated table of efficacy ratings for corn fungicides, available at http://bit.ly/126i8ty. This table only provides efficacy ratings for diseases. It does not rank fungicides for physiological plant health effects. Diseases of primary concern to us in Kentucky would include gray leaf spot and, sometimes .northern leaf blight. In selected fields in some years, southern rust may justify a fungicide application under Kentucky conditions, but in most fields, levels of southern rust are so low that routine fungicide application is difficult to justify. It would be very uncommon for the other diseases listed to pose yield-impacting threats under Kentucky conditions.

When it comes to frogeye, anecdotal evidence indicates that a rate of 10-12 fl oz/A would be more appropriate for control. Timing the Quadris applications for frogeye control should follow what were recommending for target spot unless disease pressure is heavy before layby. In these cases, treat with Quadris as soon as possible. A follow-up treatment may be necessary later in the season if disease is active, particularly around topping time. If multiple applications of Quadris are needed, the label requires alternation with a fungicide which has a different mode of action than Quadris. For frogeye and target spot, our only options would be Manzate Pro-Stick, Dithane DF, or Penncozeb (mancozeb fungicides). So a grower applying Quadris at layby could come back with mancozeb 2-3 weeks later, and then treat with Quadris either before or after layby to stay compliant with the label. Quadris should never be tank-mixed with any pesticide formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate; also avoid foliar fertilizers, surfactants and (later in the season) sucker control materials. With regard to Orthene, we have had some reports of injury in Kentucky when this insecticide is tankmixed with Quadris; however, many have applied this combination with no ill effects. To play it safe, it may be best to not use Orthene and Quadris together during the hot, dry spell that were under right now. Quadris can cause weather flecking if applied by itself in hot weather, and would be more likely to burn if tank-mixed with Orthene under these conditions. Blue Mold As of June 24, no blue mold has been reported in the tobacco-growing areas of the United States.

VEGETABLES

Tomato Spotted Wilt on the Increase By Kenny Seebold, Extension Plant Pathologist Tomato spotted wilt (TSW) is being reported around the state on tobacco and tomatoes. The incidence of symptomatic plants in affected fields is fairly low (less than 1%) in most cases, but at least one tobacco grower has reported 10% incidence in some fields. Losses to TSW are generally negligible in Kentucky although decreased yield and quality of tobacco can occur on individual farms if incidence exceeds 10%. With tomatoes (and also peppers), yield losses can occur at lower incidence, especially if infection takes place early in the growing season. The causal agent of TSW is the Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and is transmitted to susceptible host plants by several species of thrips, including the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and the tobacco thrips (F. fusca). Larval and adult thrips transmit the virus during feeding, but the virus can be acquired by larvae only. Following acquisition of TSWV, thrips carry the virus for life. It is believed that roughly 10% of the thrips population in an area with endemic TSW actually carries TSWV. Thrips feed on a number of plant species, and TSWV has many hosts in nature (including tomato, pepper, and many ornamental plants). Thus there are numerous reservoirs for both the virus and vector in areas where tobacco is grown. Tobacco and susceptible vegetables can be infected by TSWV at any stage of growth. It is believed that plants are most susceptible when young and actively growing, and symptoms tend to be severe on young plants

Figure 1. Severe symptom of TSW on a young burley tobacco plant

Figure 3. Yellowing and stunting of burley due to infection by TSWV.

Severe stunting or death is likely if tobacco becomes infected with TSWV prior to layby. Numerous symptoms of TSW can be observed: ringspots on leaves, stems, and

In other areas where TSW is problematic, planting at a time when thrips are less active (late spring) has helped reduce losses to the disease. Tobacco varieties with resistance to TSWV are not known at this time; however, resistance is available in tomatoes and peppers. Research in other parts of the country has shown that losses to TSW can be reduced to a degree by minimizing stress to plants (drought, pest, and nutrient). Removal of symptomatic plants (rouging) can help reduce secondary spread of disease later in the season. For more information regarding TSW and its control on tobacco and vegetables, visit the Tomato Spotted Wilt page maintained at the University of Georgia (http://www.tomatospottedwiltinfo.org/). Another excellent source of information is: www.ces.ncsu.edu/robeson/agriculture/tomspo twiltvirus.pdf.

Figure 2. Ringspots on tomato foliage infected with TSWV (D. Langston, University of Georgia).

fruit; necrotic spots on leaves; leaf distortion; root/vascular necrosis; yellowing stunting; and wilting.

Late Blight of Tomato Found in Kentucky By Kenny Seebold, Extension Plant Pathologist Late blight was confirmed this past Friday (June 21) on tomatoes in Wayne County. There are unconfirmed reports of this disease from a neighboring county as well. The weather conditions that we face for the next 710 days, fortunately, do not favor development and spread of late blight. Still, its likely that the disease has become established in some areas, and we need to be on guard to prevent serious losses if and when conditions do favor late blight. Taking preventive action is critical, and this means being on a regular fungicide schedule. A summary of control recommendations for homeowners, conventional commercial producers, and organic growers was published on June 11, 2013 in Kentucky Pest News No. 1343 (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpatho logy/extension/KPN%20Site%20Files/kpn_13 /pn_130611.html). Please contact me at kwseebold@uky.edu if you suspect or find late blight on tomato or potato, or if you have questions.

On fruit and vegetable samples, we have diagnosed cane blight on black raspberry; black rot on grape; Fusicoccum stem canker on blueberry; Phomopsis leaf blight on strawberry; scab, frogeye leaf spot, fire blight and cedar-apple rust on apple; brown rot on cherry; bacterial leaf spot on pepper; Septoria leaf spot, early blight, Botrytis leaf blight, leaf mold (Fulvia), southern blight and tomato spotted wilt virus on tomato. On ornamentals and turf, we have seen bacterial leaf spot on hydrangea; Botryosphaeria canker on holly; rose rosette and sawfly injury on rose; Phomopsis dieback on crabapple; anthracnose on ash; Pythium root rot on bentgrass; and red thread on bluegrass.

2013 INSECT TRAP COUNTS

June 14 - 21 Location Black cutworm Armyworm European corn borer Corn earworm Southwestern corn borer Fall armyworm Princeton, KY 8 86 0 8 32 1 Lexington, KY 21 202 13 5 8 7

DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY HIGHLIGHTS

By Julie Beale and Brenda Kennedy Agronomic samples diagnosed in the PDDL in the past week have included Lepto leaf spot on alfalfa; magnesium deficiency and root zone compaction on corn; brown spot on soybean; black shank, Rhizoctonia stem rot, Pythium root rot, bacterial blackleg, tomato spotted wilt virus, temporary phosphorus deficiency and symptoms of transplant shock on tobacco.

Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2013 season are available on the IPM web site at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

Note: Trade names are used to simplify the information presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not named.