Disease: Northern Corn Leaf Blight
Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB) is one of the most damaging and common foliar corn diseases, especially in the northern Corn Belt. Timely scouting is essential to slow NCLB’s impact.
Timing and Transmission
The fungus that causes NCLB overwinters as mycelia and conidia in infected corn residue and is dispersed by spores in the wind. Disease development is favored by extended leaf wetness and moderate temperatures of 64-81° F.
Identification and Dissemination
NCLB symptoms are long, elliptical or cigar-shaped lesions that are grayish-green or tan that run parallel to the leaf. Symptoms start on the lower leaves and progress upward under favorable conditions. Severe infections cause a prematurely dead or gray appearance.
Management
The first line of defense is to plant resistant corn varieties with resistance genes e.g., HT genes for NCLB. This information should be available from your seed provider. Use crop rotation and tillage where possible to help reduce existing corn residue that NCLB inoculum can overwinter on. Lastly, apply a foliar fungicide with activity against NCLB. Fungicide applications should occur at the first sign of disease, so timely scouting is essential. Typically, corn foliar fungicides are applied during the VT - R1 growth stages and have the highest likelihood for an economic return. Protecting the ear leaf and leaves above before, during and after pollination is the most important and will provide the greatest return.
Xyway® brand fungicides from FMC (FRAC Group 3) are the first and only foliar fungicide to be applied at planting. This strategy helps protect the plant’s yield potential from day one. This application means protecting all the leaves, including lower leaves, reducing the buildup of inoculum and disease pressure during vegetative stages, thus lowering the overall impact of foliar disease.
Adastrio™ fungicide (FRAC Groups 3, 7 & 11) can be applied foliarly and has three active ingredients to help protect corn from NCLB. This innovative fungicide combines a novel molecule in the SDHI class, fluindapyr with one of the most systemic triazoles on the market, flutriafol and azoxystrobin.
Foliar fungicides like Lucento® fungicide (FRAC Groups 3 & 7) and Topguard® EQ fungicide (FRAC Groups 3 & 11) can be applied foliarly, in-season at the V1-R1 growth stages to help protect against this yield-robbing disease.
Performance Data
NORTHERN CORN LEAF BLIGHT % SEVERITY
14 DAB - WINSBORO, LA, 2017
FMC Product Solutions
Always read and follow all label directions, precautions and restrictions for use. FMC, the FMC logo, Adastrio, LFR, Lucento, Topguard and Xyway are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. ©2023 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 22-FMC-3112 07/23