Less Common Corn Ear Rots

Penicillium Ear Rot (mycotoxins may occur)

• Blue-green fungal growth on and between kernel usually near the ear tip is characteristic of this disease
• Fungal disease of ears often associated with damage from insects or other physical injury
• Infected kernels may become bleached or streaked
• Common and damaging fungus of stored grain, and can grow on kernels with moisture greater than 18%

Cladosporium Ear Rot (no mycotoxins)

• Kernels have a gray to black or greenish-black appearance, and sometimes a powdery mold growth is present
• Also causes black streaks on kernels
• This fungal disease is often seen on ears damaged from frost, insects or other mechanical injury
• Wet weather during ear maturation and delayed harvest may favor this fungal growth

Nigrospora Ear Rot (no mycotoxins)

• Kernels have a dark gray or black discoloration from fungal mycelium and spores, mostly at the base of kernels
• Infection may first be noticed when cobs shred from the butt end during mechanical harvest
• Usually more severe at the base of ears, and ears are often chaffy and lightweight
• Affected ears are often from plants that have been weakened from frost, drought, root injury, leaf blights, stalk rots or lower fertility soils

Trichoderma Ear Rot (no mycotoxins)

• Typical symptoms include a dark green fungal growth on and between husks and kernels, often involving the entire ear
• Fungal disease of ears usually associated with injury to the developing ear, including damage from bird or insect feeding or other mechanical injury
• For this reason, damage is not found on every ear, but rather, is usually more scattered within a field Contact us at Hoegemeyer anytime to learn more about less common corn ear rot, corn diseases and conditions, and best practices in control.