Southern Corn Blight Essay

Southern Corn Leaf Blight
Planting one genotype of a species over and over again can potentially have unfavorable outcomes. This can generally make it so pests like insects and diseases can thrive if introduced to the crop because there is little competition. Southern corn leaf blight is a great example of just this. Caused by Race T of the fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus (Pioneer), Southern corn leaf blight has been detrimental to corn crops since the 1970’s (American Phytopathological Society). It is a great example of the “importance of having access to other, often much older germplasm from other regions of the world or from related species” (American Phytopathological Society). Plant diseases are inevitable but some practices may help combat them.
Cochliobolus heterostrophus is the fungus that causes Southern corn leaf blight. It is a natural pathogen of corn; other Cochliobolus species attack crops like rice, barley, …show more content…
Southern corn leaf blight can also cause “significant loss of corn leaf area”, which favors “reduced photosynthesis, lowering yield potential and increasing risk of stalk rots” (Pioneer). The pathogen of southern corn leaf blight can also cause a decrease in yield if it infects the plants earlier in the growing season. Ear and cob rots can also occur (Pioneer). All of these factors relate to huge economic losses. Figures 2-3. Common Southern corn leaf blight symptoms (Pioneer).
Cochliobolus heterostrophus overwinters in plant debris very well. In the spring spores are produced, and they are moved by wind and rain. Once on the plant, infection occurs and lesions develop. Within these lesions more spores develop and are carried to other plants. This causes more and more plants to become infected. The fungus stays in the debris, overwinters, and the whole cycle continues again (Pioneer). Figure 4. Disease cycle of Cochliobolus heterostrophus

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