Downy Mildew
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Symptoms of Downy Mildew
- Downy mildew, or crazy top, causes distortion and/or stunting of the corn plant.
- Tunneling usually kills the plant.
- The tassel bracts may proliferate, resulting in a very bushy appearance of the top of the plant.
Facts
- Downy mildew is a fungal disease that frequently occurs in areas of fields subject to flooding.
- Seedlings are more susceptible than adult plants.
Life Cycle of Downy Mildew
- Crazy top is caused by a soilborne fungus, which overwinters as oospores either within infected tissue or in the soil.
- During periods of flooding, the oospores germinate and swimming zoospores are produced. The zoospores infect the growing point of the young corn plants.
Management of Downy Mildew
- Avoiding areas prone to flooding and providing for adequate drainage of surface water are the best means of controlling downy mildew.