visited
a number of fields in east central Indiana Friday afternoon that had not yet
emerged even though the calendar was approaching three weeks since they had
been planted. More importantly, apparent seedling disease development in these
fields was widespread and eventual stand establishment may be poor enough to
merit replanting. The common combination of factors among these fields was mid-April
planting (5 to 6 days prior to the recent cold snap) followed by the onset of
cold soils (too cool to sustain germination), heavy rainfall, short-term ponding,
saturated surface soils, surface soil crusts, and (eventually) seedling diseases.
Plant pathologists often remind us that one of the consequences of cold wet soils, delayed corn emergence, and slow seedling growth is the higher risk of seedling disease development as the seed-applied fungicides slowly deteriorate following the first two to three weeks after planting (Malvick, 2005; Robertson, 2005; Thomison & Lipps, 2005). Indeed, one of the common denominators among most of the pre-emergence seedlings I looked at last Friday was a discoloration and/or outright death of the radicle root, coleoptile, or scutellar node symptomatic of seedling disease development.
 A healthy pre-emergence corn seedling. |
 Pre-emergence corn seedling with visual symptoms
of seedling disease. |
 Pre-emergence corn seedling with visual symptoms
of seedling disease. |
 Pre-emergence corn seedling with visual symptoms
of seedling disease. |
 Pre-emergence corn seedling with visual symptoms
of seedling disease. |
Growers should visit fields not yet emerged or recently emerged and carefully inspect seedlings for symptoms of disease; especially lower lying areas where saturated soils were more prevalent. A decision to replant based on inspections of pre-emergence seedlings can be difficult primarily because most of us don’t have the patience nor the time to thoroughly sample a field on our hands and knees digging up seedlings. The consequences of seedling disease on the success of emergence and initial stand establishment will become more apparent by the end of this week, if not sooner. Once emergence occurs (or not), growers will be able to more easily assess healthy plant populations and make a replant determination. Remember to use my replant worksheet (Nielsen, 2003) to help estimate the yield and dollar returns to replanting if the economics of the decision are not obvious.
Jackson, Tamra. 2005. Conditions right for seedling diseases in corn and sorghum. Nebraska CropWatch Newsletter, Univ. of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension. Available online at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/archives/2005/crop05-9.htm#disease [URL verified 5/8/05].
Malvick, Dean. 2005. Corn Seed and Seedling Diseases. Illinois Pest & Crop Bulletin. Univ. of Illinois. Available online at http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/article.php?issueNumber=6&issueYear=2005&articleNumber=3 [URL verified 4/29/05].
Nafziger, Emerson. 2005. The Good, the Bad, and the Unsightly. Illinois Pest & Crop Bulletin. Univ. of Illinois. Available online at http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/article.php?issueNumber=7&issueYear=2005&articleNumber=10 [URL verified 5/8/05].
Nielsen, R.L. (Bob). 2003. Estimating Yield and Dollar Returns from Corn Replanting. Purdue Univ. Cooperative Ext. Service Publication AY-264-W. Available online at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/pubs/AY-264-W.pdf [URL verified 4/28/05].
Nielsen, R.L. (Bob). 2005a. I’ve Got The Corny Stand Establishment Blues…. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. Available online at http://www.kingcorn.org/news/articles.05/StandEstablishment-0503.html [URL verified 5/8/05].
Nielsen, R.L. (Bob). 2005b. Stress Continues for Corn Growing Under Refrigerated Conditions. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. Available online at http://www.kingcorn.org/news/articles.05/RefrigCorn-0429.html [URL verified 5/3/05].
Purdue/Ohio State AgAnswers. Cool temperatures send shivers up grower's backs. Purdue Univ. & Ohio State Univ. Available online at http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/aganswers/story.asp?storyID=3939 [URL verified 5/8/05].
Robertson, Alison. 2005. Cool temperatures favor corn seedling diseases. Iowa Integrated Crop Management Newsletter. Iowa State Univ. Available online at http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2005/5-2-2005/cool.html [URL verified 5/8/05].
Thomison, Peter and Patrick Lipps. 2005. Impact of Freezing Temperatures and Snow on Corn Survival. Crop Observation Reporting Network, Ohio State Univ. Available online at http://corn.osu.edu/index.php?setissueID=80#D [URL verified 4/29/05].