Corn Field Guide

Extension and Outreach Publications Extension and Outreach
2009
Corn Field Guide

Lori Abendroth
Iowa State University, labend@iastate.edu
Roger Elmore
Iowa State University
Robert G. Hartzler
Iowa State University, hartzler@iastate.edu
Clarke McGrath
Iowa State University, cmcgrath@iastate.edu
Daren S. Mueller
Iowa State University, dsmuelle@iastate.edu
See next page for additional authors
Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_pubs

Part of the Agriculture Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, and the Plant
Pathology Commons
Recommended Citation
Abendroth, Lori; Elmore, Roger; Hartzler, Robert G.; McGrath, Clarke; Mueller, Daren S.; Munkvold, Gary P.; Pope, Richard; Rice,
Marlin E.; Robertson, Alison E.; Sawyer, John E.; Schaefer, Kristine J. P.; Tollefson, Jon James; and Tylka, Gregory L., "Corn Field
Guide" (2009). Extension and Outreach Publications. 26.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_pubs/26
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publications in the Iowa State University
Digital Repository are made available for historical purposes only. Users are hereby notified
that the content may be inaccurate, out of date, incomplete and/or may not meet the needs
and requirements of the user. Users should make their own assessment of the information and
whether it is suitable for their intended purpose. For current publications and information
from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, please visit
http://www.extension.iastate.edu.
Authors
Lori Abendroth, Roger Elmore, Robert G. Hartzler, Clarke McGrath, Daren S. Mueller, Gary P. Munkvold,
Richard Pope, Marlin E. Rice, Alison E. Robertson, John E. Sawyer, Kristine J. P. Schaefer, Jon James
Tollefson, and Gregory L. Tylka
This book is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_pubs/26

Corn
FIELD GUIDE
A reference for identifying

diseases, insect pests,
and disorders of corn.
Table of contents
Corn production......................................................................3
Developmental stages............................................................................... 4
Root systems............................................................................................... 8
Degree days................................................................................................. 9
Production decisions...............................................................................10

Integrated pest management (IPM)...................................17
Scouting.......................................................................................................18
Diagnostic clinic........................................................................................21
Fungicide decisions..................................................................................23
Herbicide decisions.................................................................................24
Insecticide decisions................................................................................26
Diseases...................................................................................27
Foliar diseases............................................................................................28
Other aboveground diseases...............................................................34
Stalk rots.....................................................................................................36
Ear rots........................................................................................................39
Seed and root diseases...........................................................................42
Nematodes.................................................................................................43
Disease look-alikes..................................................................................44
Insects......................................................................................45
Insect pests.................................................................................................46
Beneficial insects.......................................................................................59
Disorders.................................................................................61
Herbicide injury........................................................................................62
Nutrient deficiencies...............................................................................67
Fertilizer injury..........................................................................................70
Early season stresses...............................................................................72
Midseason stresses..................................................................................75
Stalk lodging...............................................................................................79
Abnormal ears...........................................................................................80
Note: Information in this guide may be specific to Iowa.Those using the
guide from outside Iowa should check with their extension service for
local recommendations.
© 2009 Iowa State University of Science and Technology

All rights reserved.
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2 Corn field guide
Corn production
Corn
Production
Maximizing corn yields and grain quality demands

proper in-season diagnostic and management skills.
Corn Management Field Guide

•
3
Developmental stages
Vegetative and reproductive stages are determined on a
whole-field basis when at least 50 percent of the plants
have reached or are beyond a particular stage.
Vegetative stages
• VE: emergence of the shoot from the soil.
• V1: lowest leaf has a visible collar; this leaf has a rounded tip,
unlike subsequent pointed leaves.
• V2: two lowest leaves have a visible collar.
• V(n): “n” leaf collars present; there are 17 to 22 V stages before
tassel emergence.
• VT: lowest branch of the tassel is visible, but silks have
not emerged.
R2 R3 R4 R5 R6
VE V1 V3 V7 V10
Source: Pocket Guide to Crop Development. © 2003 University of Illinois.
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4 Corn field guide
Reproductive stages
• R1 (silk): any silk is visible.
• R2 (blister): kernels are small and white; the endosperm
(kernel fluid) is clear.
• R3 (milk): kernels are yellow with milky white fluid.
• R4 (dough): kernel contents are pasty as starch accumulates.
• R5 (dent): most kernels are dented due to the starch
hardening at the top of the kernel. As maturity progresses,
the starch hardens and the milk line moves toward the cob.
• R6 (black layer or physiological maturity): the milk
line is no longer visible; a black layer forms at the kernel’s
attachment, which signifies the end of dry matter
accumulation.
VT R1 R6
Corn field guide

•5
Leaf collar method
for determining vegetative stage
Vegetative (V) stages are
determined by the total number leaf
collars
of leaves with visible collars
(e.g., a plant with three visible
leaf collars is at V3). A collar is
the off-white band at the base
of the leaf blade where it extends
away from the stalk. A new leaf
appears every three to four days
with good growing conditions
until tasseling.
As the plant grows, lower leaves 8th
are lost. These leaves must node
be counted; otherwise, the

development stage will be
misidentified. Split stalks to
accurately determine the leaf stage.
Each leaf is attached to a single
node, and nodes are visible as
lines across the split stalk. 7th
node
The first four nodes are usually
indistinguishable within the
crown. The fifth node is about
one-half inch above the area that 6th
node
contains the first nodes. The node 5th
node
corresponding with the uppermost nodes
leaf with a visible collar defines 1–4
the vegetative stage.
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6 Corn field guide
Stress effects at key growth stages
V6: The growing point is above ground. Ear shoots
and tassel are initiated (visible with a hand lens).
The potential row number (ear girth) is determined and,
although strongly influenced by genetics, can be reduced
by stress.
V12–VT: Potential kernels per row (ear length) are
determined but can be reduced by stress.
Emergence of the ear
Late vegetative R1
R1: Silks emerge and stress (especially drought) can

interfere with pollination. Stress is most yield limiting
at this stage compared to other growth stages.
R2–R3: Stress causes kernel abortion starting from the
ear tip. Severity of stress will determine the extent of
kernel loss.
R4–R5: Kernel moisture declines as starch content
increases. Stress typically reduces kernel weight.
R6: A black layer forms at the kernel’s attachment,
blocking movement of dry matter to the kernel.
Stress has no yield effect unless plants lodge or ears are
damaged, e.g., from high winds or insect feeding.
Corn field guide

•
7
Root systems
Corn has two identifiable root systems, seminal and
nodal. The initial (seminal) root system helps anchor
seedlings and provides nutrients and water for early
plant growth. The secondary (nodal) root system forms
where the mesocotyl and coleoptile meet. The nodal
root system is visible by approximately V2 and becomes
dominant by V6. Seeds should be planted approximately
two inches deep for proper nodal root formation.
2nd leaf
1st leaf:
Blade
Collar
Sheath
Coleoptile
Mesocotyl Nodal roots
Radicle
Seminal
roots
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8 Corn field guide
Degree days
Corn development can be predicted by tracking
degree days (DD), which measure heat accumulation
based on daily air temperatures. For example, shoot
emergence occurs when approximately 125 DD
accumulate after planting. The base temperature for corn
development is 50°F. Development of some insect species
also may be predicted by using degree days, but the base
temperature may differ (page 26).
Estimate daily heat accumulation for corn:
• Collect the daily high and low air temperatures and
adjust (if necessary) for the base (50°F) and maximum
(86°F) temperatures. If the low is under 50°F, use 50°F
to calculate DD for that day. If the high exceeds 86°F,
then use 86°F to calculate DD.
• The average of the adjusted high and low temperatures
minus the base temperature equals the daily DD
accumulation.
• Add DD gained for each day to estimate the
accumulated DD over time.
Example of calculating degree days

Day 1: the high temperature is 80°F and the low is 55°F.
Day 2: the high temperature is 66°F and the low is 40°F
(change 40 to 50 in the equation).
Day 3: the high temperature is 92°F and the low is 72°F
(change 92 to 86 in the equation).
Calculation for Day 1: [(80 + 55)/2] – 50 = 17.5 DD
Calculation for Day 2: [(66 + 50)/2] – 50 = 8 DD
Calculation for Day 3: [(86 + 72)/2] – 50 = 29 DD
Total for three days: 17.5 + 8 + 29 = 54.5 (round up) = 55 DD
Corn field guide

• 9
Production decisions
Seeding rate
Optimal seeding rates vary in Iowa from 28,000 to
42,000 seeds per acre based on specific field conditions,
genetics, and environments. Generally, a seeding rate
of 35,000 seeds per acre will maximize yield. Reduce
seeding rates if water is limiting or if soil conditions
are poor.
Planting date
• Corn should be planted when soil temperatures are
near 50°F and are expected to rise. In soils below 50°F,
seeds readily absorb water but will not initiate root or
shoot growth. This may lead to increased early season
diseases, insect feeding, and herbicide injury if poor
seedbed conditions persist. Therefore, it is better to wait
until seedbed conditions are suitable for planting to
ensure good germination and seedling establishment.
• Ideally, the best time to plant in Iowa is approximately
April 20 to May 5.
• Yields are reduced more when corn is planted too
late rather than too early. If you do not plant in the
optimum April 20 through May 5 window, consider
that yields are generally reduced less from plantings
10 days before the optimum period than 10 days after.
Yields increasingly drop off once planting is delayed
past mid-May.
• Consider changing to shorter maturity hybrids if
planting is delayed until early June.
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10 Corn field guide
Estimating population
• Measure 1/1,000 of an acre (the table below is a guide
for the length of row needed).
• Count the number of plants in the measured area.
• Count in at least six representative places across the
field. Do not intentionally avoid areas in rows with
gaps; include these in areas assessed.
• Multiply the average number of plants by 1,000 to
obtain the final plant population per acre.
Feet of row representing 1/1,000 of an acre at
different row widths
Row Spacing Row Length
15˝ 34´ 10˝
20˝ 26´ 2˝
30˝ 17´ 5˝
36˝ 14´ 6˝
38˝ 13´ 9˝
Replant decisions
Replanting may be necessary following seedling damage
or loss caused by early season diseases, prolonged
cold soils, frost, flooding, hail, or insect damage. Two
scenarios typically exist in fields with problematic stands:
• non-uniform emergence resulting in different plant
heights or developmental stages
• a significantly lower population than desired
Corn field guide

• 11
Typically, replanting is beneficial only with reduced plant
populations, not with uneven emergence. To decide
whether to replant:
• Estimate the remaining plant population (page 11).
Do not count plants in the affected area that are
severely injured.
• Calculate expected yield from the existing stand
(table below).
• Compare yield potential of the replanted crop with the
potential yield of the existing crop.
• Estimate replant costs. Replant costs include
tillage, seed, fuel (for tillage and planting), additional
pesticides, labor, etc. The probability of fall frost
damage to late planted corn also is greater. Consider
shorter maturity hybrids in very late replant situations.
Relative yield potential of corn by planting date and population

Planting Date
April 20– May 5– May 15– May 25– June 5–
May 5 May 15 May 25 June 5 June 15
Population
(Plants/Acre) Percent Maximum Yield
45,000 97 93 85 68 52
40,000 99 95 86 69 53
35,000 100 96 87 70 54
30,000 99 95 86 69 53
25,000 95 91 83 67 51
20,000 89 85 77 63 48
15,000 81 78 71 57 44
10,000 71 68 62 50 38
Note: Values based on preliminary Iowa research and modeling;
100% yield potential is estimated to occur with 35,000 plant population
and early planting.
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12 Corn field guide
Typically, replanting is beneficial only with reduced plant populations (top), not with
uneven emergence (bottom).
Corn field guide

•
13
Estimating yield potential
Yields can be estimated starting
at R2, but the accuracy will
vary depending on actual
kernel weight. Yield is
overestimated in fields
with poor grain-fill conditions
and underestimated in fields
Sixteen rows per ear
with above average grain-fill
conditions.
• Estimate the number
of harvestable ears per
1/1,000 acre (page 11 for
length of row needed).
• Count the number of rows of
kernels per ear on every fifth
ear in the measured section
and calculate the average.
• On these ears, count the
number of kernels per row
and calculate the average.
• Estimated yield (bushels
Forty kernels per row
per acre) = (number of
harvestable ears 3 number of rows per ear 3 number
of kernels per row) divided by 90.
• For more accurate estimations, repeat this process
several times in a field.
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14 Corn field guide
Cutting silage
In a typical season, chop corn at about 60 to 70 percent
moisture (60 to 65% for upright silos and 65 to 70%
for bunker silos and silage bags where packing is more
difficult). Corn will be approximately at R5, between
1
⁄3 and 2⁄3 milk line.
Corn that is chopped when it is too wet will lose
nutrients through seepage. Corn that is chopped when
it is too dry is difficult to pack, which allows oxygen to
enter and disturb fermentation. This enables yeasts and
molds to grow and increases heating.
Frost may force the decision to harvest corn as silage
with late maturing hybrids or late plantings. If frost
comes during the 1⁄3 to 2⁄3 milk line period, the
whole-plant moisture content should be sufficient
for normal ensiling.
Using a commercial laboratory to test the silage moisture
is always ideal but is most critical with corn that has
died prematurely.
Corn field guide

• 15
Dry down after black layer
Kernel moisture is about 30 percent at R6. Then, drying
rates are normally 0.4 to 0.8 percent moisture per day.
Ideal harvest moisture for field corn is 15 to 20 percent,
which typically occurs 2 to 4 weeks after R6. The rate of
dry down when estimating time to harvest depends
on the following:
Weather
• Cool, wet weather can lower daily drying rates to less
than 0.3 percent per day.
• Warm, dry weather can raise daily drying rates to
1 percent per day.
Hybrid
• Late maturing hybrids dry slower than early maturing
hybrids.
• Hybrid traits associated with faster drying include
thinner, fewer, and loose husk leaves; ears with tips that
protrude beyond the husks; early ear drop from an up-
right position; and thinner, more permeable seed coats.
Planting date
• Late planted corn dries slower than early planted corn.
Field harvest losses
Adjust harvest equipment to minimize grain loss.
Two kernels per square foot left behind the combine
represents one lost bushel per acre. One full ear lost
per 1/1,000 acre represents 6 to 7 bushels per acre left
in the field. Losses can be considerable in lodged or
hail-damaged fields.
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16 Corn field guide
IPM
Integrated
pest management
Integrated pest management (IPM) protects crops

through assessment of disease and insect risks. IPM
emphasizes scouting and detailed record keeping and
may include the use of thresholds based on specific field
VT
and environmental R1
information. R6
Corn field guide DRAFT

•
5
Scouting
Scouting for corn injury and pests
Examine problem area
• Is the problem scattered randomly through the field or
occurring in a pattern?
• Is the problem more prevalent at a field entrance or
along a fence, field edge, or waterway?
• Is the damage more severe in low areas or on exposed
slopes?
• Does the pattern correspond to planting, spraying, or
other field activities?
Check individual plants for symptoms and signs
Compare damaged plants with healthy plants. Check the
entire plant, including leaves, stems, roots, and internal
tissues for feeding injury or disease symptoms. A small
hand lens, a pocket knife, and a shovel are valuable tools.
Washing roots to estimate insect damage
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18 Corn field guide
Gathering information
Check the prevalence and severity of the problem
Damage from diseases and most insects progresses
with time. If most of a field is affected uniformly at the
same time, the problem may not be a disease or insect.
Herbicide injury development rate may vary depending
on the herbicide involved and environmental conditions.
Check plant species affected
Several insects and many diseases are specific to corn or
closely related plants. Similar symptoms appearing on
different crops or weeds in the same area may suggest a
non-biological problem, such as herbicide injury.
Answer these questions when scouting weed problems:
• Is there only one weed species that is not controlled or
are there several different species present?
• Are some plants of a weed species not affected by a
herbicide application, while other plants of the same
species are controlled?
• Are uncontrolled plants of the same species all of
similar size and growth stage?
Consider specific
pest monitoring
Some insect
pests can be
monitored using
pheromone traps.
Checking a pheromone-baited trap
Corn field guide

•19
Consider time of year
Some diseases and insects appear at different, yet
often predictable, times during the season. In general,
scouting for insects is based on the time of year and crop
development stage, but scouting for many diseases is
based primarily on the developmental stage of the crop.
Consider recent weather
Environmental stresses may damage corn directly or
make it more susceptible to certain diseases, insects, or
herbicide injury.
Collect background information for the field, such as:
• Previous crops
• Previous insect, weed, and disease problems
• Planting date, depth, and seedbed conditions
• Hybrid information, including resistance to insects,
diseases, and herbicide tolerance
• Chemicals used on or near the crop including
herbicides, fertilizers, fungicides, and insecticides;
indicate when applied, how applied, rate of
application, and weather conditions during and
following application
• Additives and adjuvants used on the crop
• Current soil-test information (e.g., soil fertility, pH)
• Soil moisture and compaction
• Topography of the field
• Recent weather events
• Adjacent crop and non-crop areas
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20 Corn field guide
Diagnostic clinic
ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
If you are unsure of the cause of the problem,
symptomatic corn can be sent to the Iowa State University
Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. Weed and insect
samples also can be sent in for identification.
ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
327 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA 50011
E-mail: sickplant@iastate.edu
Web site: www.plantpath.iastate.edu/pdc
Phone: 515-294-0581
Submitting plants
• Provide plenty of fresh material. When possible, send
the entire plant, including roots and top growth. Stalks
can be folded to fit the entire plant into a box. Include
enough plant material to show a range of symptoms.
• Provide appropriate background information for the
field (pages 19 and 20).
• Include photos when possible.
• Wrap specimens in dry paper towels or clean
newspaper (do not add moisture).
Submitting insects
• Collect multiple (6–12) intact specimens of all available
life stages, not just body parts.
• Include intact plant material showing typical damage,
packed as described above.
• Place hard-bodied insects (e.g., beetles, grasshoppers) in
plastic bags, pill bottles, or vials.
• Place soft-bodied insects (e.g., caterpillars, aphids) in a
vial with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
• Submit insect samples in a padded mailer or box.
Corn field guide
•
21
Submitting soil samples for corn nematode testing
Soil samples can be taken any time from mid-July to
early October. In Iowa, the greatest number of corn
nematodes typically are found midseason.
• Collect a soil core or ¼ cup of soil (a subsample) from
10 to 20 different locations within an area no larger
than 20 acres using a soil sampling probe, hand trowel,
or shovel.
• Sample in a zigzag pattern taking care not to sample
only from areas of severely damaged plants.
• Collect soil from the top 12 inches.
• Combine all subsamples in a bucket and mix
thoroughly.
• Place approximately 1 to 2 pints of mixed soil into a
plastic bag or paper soil-test bag, then seal and label
with a permanent marker.
• Store samples in a cool, dark place until shipping.
Collecting soil samples during the season
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22 Corn field guide
Fungicide decisions
Fungal foliar diseases can be managed with resistant
hybrids, crop rotation, tillage, and foliar fungicides.
The decision to apply a fungicide to manage a disease
should be based on disease identification, developmental
stage at which disease occurs, and the current and
forecasted weather. Most fungicides approved for use
on corn in Iowa are either strobilurins or triazoles.
Some premix products contain a combination of the two.
Considerations before using a foliar fungicide:
• Cropping history and percent surface crop residue
affect the risk of disease. Many pathogens survive in
crop residue, which can be a source of inoculum.
• Disease presence before or at stage VT may result in
greater yield loss than disease that occurs later during
grain fill.
• Hybrids vary in their susceptibility to foliar diseases.
• Development of many foliar diseases is favored by
warm, wet weather.
• Use of an adjuvant in fungicide applications prior to VT
may result in abnormal ear development.
• Fungicides do not affect bacterial diseases such as
Holcus leaf spot, Goss’s wilt, and Stewart’s disease.
• Profitability of a fungicide application depends on the
price of grain and the cost of application.
Fungicides are often aerially applied.
Corn field guide

•23
Herbicide decisions
Herbicide programs typically include soil-applied and
foliar-applied (postemergence) products. Soil-applied
herbicides prevent early weed competition and protect
yield potential. Postemergence applications target weed
species that are not controlled by soil applications.
Some postemergence herbicides only control weeds
emerged at the time of application. Others control
emerged weeds and provide residual herbicide activity
against later emerging weeds.
A well-designed weed management plan protects corn
from weed competition, minimizes herbicide injury
potential, and delays or prevents herbicide-resistant
weed development.
Factors to consider when developing a weed
management plan:
• Weed escapes or problems the previous year
• Environmental conditions the previous year including
conditions favorable for herbicide carryover
• Herbicide-tolerant hybrids used the previous year that
may lead to a volunteer corn problem
• Herbicide-tolerant hybrids planted this season
• Tillage plans for this season
• Using herbicides with different sites of action to delay
or prevent herbicide-resistant weed development
• Using timely herbicide applications that prevent early
season weed competition and provide residual control
for late emerging weed species
• Postemergence herbicide label restrictions based on
corn and weed growth stage or height
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24 Corn field guide
Postemergence herbicide application timing factors:
Fields should be scouted during the first two weeks after
crop emergence to determine the need and appropriate
timing of postemergence weed control. Weed density
and growth rates are critical factors influencing how
long weeds can compete with the crop before yields are
reduced. Treat fields with heavy infestations as soon as
possible after weed emergence.
The initial growth of weeds is relatively slow, but their
growth rate increases rapidly after a few weeks. Weeds
as small as 2 inches can reduce corn yields if they are
present at high densities (greater than 10 per square
foot). The crop yield loss per day increases as control
tactics are delayed due to the increasing growth rate and
greater impact of large weeds (table below).
Example: Giant foxtail growth rates and impact on corn yields as
affected by plant height
Weed Height Growth Rate Yield Lossa
(Inches) (Inches per Day) (% per Day)
2–4 0.4 0.5
4–6 0.5 0.8
6–8 0.7 1.5
aAdapted from Gower et al. 2003. Weed Technol.
Corn field guide

•
25
Insecticide decisions
Insect pests can be managed with resistant hybrids,
crop rotation, tillage, beneficial insects, and insecticides.
The decision to use an insecticide depends on proper
insect identification, understanding the insect’s life cycle,
and how season, crop stage, and environment contribute
to crop loss.
Considerations before using an insecticide:
• Some insecticides may reduce beneficial insect
populations and cause secondary problems;
e.g., a flare-up of spider mites.
• Preharvest intervals may limit the choice of insecticide.
• Proximity to residential areas, bee yards, and organic
or other sensitive crops may limit choice of insecticide
and application timing.
• For some pests, economic thresholds are coupled
with pest development markers based on degree
day accumulations to target scouting and improve
decisions (table below).
Pest Base (°F)a Use of Degree Days (DD)
Seedcorn maggot 39 Adults emerge at about 200,
600, and 1,000 DD.
Black cutworm 51b Larvae start cutting at 300 DD
after eggs are laid.
Stalk borer 41 When 1,300–1,400 DD have
occurred in an area, scout by
pulling whorls to determine if
larvae are present.
Western bean cutworm 50 Fifty percent of adult emergence
and egglaying occurs at 1,422 DD
after May 1.
aMaximum temperatures are not applied for most insect species on corn.
bPreviously 50°F.
•
26 Corn field guide
Diseases
Diseases
Diseases
Diseases can cause stand loss, reduce photosynthesis,
increase lodging, and lower yields and grain quality.
Diseases vary from year to year because they are
strongly influenced by weather.
Corn field guide DRAFT

•
7
Foliar diseases
Anthracnose leaf spot
Description: Leaf lesions (spots) are oval,
tan, or brown with a dark brown or purple
margin. Lesions range up to 1 inch long and
1
⁄2 inch wide and primarily occur on the
lowest leaves. On severely infected leaves, the
lesions can grow together forming large dead
areas.These leaves may turn yellow and die.
Best time to scout: V2 through V8
Scouting tip: This is typically the first foliar
disease to occur during the growing season.
Disease may be more prevalent in fields
where previously infected corn residue
is present.
Gray leaf spot

Description: Lesions are long (up to
2 inches), narrow, rectangular, and are usually
restricted by leaf veins. Lesions initially are
light tan and later turn gray. Lesions can grow
together and kill entire leaves.
Best time to scout: VT through R4; earlier
in seed production fields
Scouting tip: Disease may be more
prevalent in fields where previously infected
corn residue is present. High relative humidity
(above 90%) during silking and early kernel-fill
stages can lead to increased disease.
•
28 Corn field guide
Common rust
Description: Brick-red pustules (raised
bumps) are oval or elongated, approximately
1
⁄8 inch long, scattered sparsely or clustered
together on both upper and lower leaf
surfaces in the mid- to upper canopy.The leaf
tissue surrounding the pustules may become
yellow. Severely infected leaves can die.
Best time to scout: V12 through R4;
earlier in seed production fields
Scouting tip: Occurs in most Iowa corn
fields. Raised, brick-red pustules are diagnostic
for common rust.
Southern rust
Description: Southern rust appears as
numerous small, orange pustules that are
densely clustered predominantly on the
upper leaf surface. Disease is first seen on
leaves in the mid- to upper canopy.
Scouting tip: Southern rust can easily be
confused with common rust, so verify location
on the leaf and color of the rust pustules.
Southern rust is favored by very warm
temperatures and is more aggressive than
common rust.
Common rust and southern rust
Common
Southern rust
rust
Corn field guide

•
29
Northern leaf blight
Description: Symptoms usually appear
first on the lower leaves. Lesions are 1 to
6 inches long and cigar-shaped. Lesions initially
are grayish-green and later turn gray or tan.
corn residue is present.
Carbonum leaf spot

(Previously called Helminthosporium
leaf spot or northern leaf spot)
Description: Both size and shape of lesions
may vary depending on the strain (race)
of the fungus and corn inbred or hybrid
genetics. Lesions can be rectangular brown
spots, or long, narrow lesions (sometimes
called a “string of pearls”) that are light tan
surrounded by a darker border. Lesions also
may be tan, oval to circular in zones with a
common center. Some lesions may appear Race 3
on sheaths and husks. Lesions range from
1
⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch wide by 1 inch long.
Scouting tip: Disease is found more often
in the lower canopy and may be more
corn residue is present and when unusually
high rainfall occurs in late summer.
Race 2; rarely seen in Iowa
•
30 Corn field guide
Southern leaf blight
Description: Lesions are ½ inch wide by up
to 1 inch long.They are oblong with rounded
ends that are tan with brown borders. Size
and shape of lesions may vary between
inbreds and hybrids with different genetics.
Scouting tip: Southern leaf blight is rare in
hybrid corn in Iowa, occurring predominantly
in seed corn fields. Extended periods of
cloudy weather with frequent rains increase
disease.
Eyespot
Description: Lesions are very small (1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch diameter) circular to oval
spots that have a tan center with a brown ring and yellow halo. Lesions often
occur in clusters.
Best time to scout: V6 through R4
Scouting tip: Disease may be more prevalent in fields where previously
infected corn residue is present. Each spot is surrounded by a yellow halo
that can be seen clearly when the leaf is lighted from behind.
Leaf with eyespot: on left without backlighting; on right with backlighting
Corn field guide

•
31
Physoderma brown spot
Description: Very small (approximately
1
⁄4 inch diameter) lesions are round to oval
and yellow to brown. Numerous lesions
occur in broad bands across the leaf,
including the midrib. Symptoms also may
occur on the stalk, leaf sheath, and husks.
Scouting tip: Often misdiagnosed as
eyespot or southern rust. Disease may be
more prevalent in fields where previously
infected corn residue is present.
Holcus leaf spot

Description: Holcus leaf spot is a bacterial
disease that appears as light tan (sometimes
nearly white), round to oval spots that may
appear water soaked at the margins or have
a light brown border. The lesions are initially
about 1⁄4 inch in diameter but often enlarge
and grow together into irregular spots and
streaks of dead tissue. Lesions eventually dry
and turn light brown with a papery texture.
Best time to scout: Prior to R1
Scouting tip: Holcus leaf spot may be
confused with eyespot. It usually occurs a few
days after a strong thunderstorm that causes
hail or wind damage to leaves.
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32 Corn field guide
Stewart’s disease
Description: This bacterial disease spreads
from corn flea beetle (page 47) feeding scars
and initially appears as pale green to yellow
streaks, later turning brown as the tissue dies.
The margins of the streaks are usually wavy
but generally follow leaf veins. Entire leaves
can be affected late in the season.
Best time to scout: Initially when corn
flea beetle feeding is apparent from VE to V5
Feeding scar in middle of lesion (Stewart’s wilt) and again after R1(Stewart’s
leaf blight)
Scouting tip: Can be confused with
northern leaf blight.The bacteria survive
the winter in the corn flea beetle. Warm
air temperatures in December, January, and
February increase the survival of the corn
flea beetle in Iowa and result in greater
transmission of the bacterium the
following growing season.
Goss’s wilt
Description: Goss’s wilt is a bacterial disease
that appears as long, grayish-green to black,
water-soaked lesions with wavy edges.
Lesions exude ooze that dries, leaving
crystalline deposits (freckles) on the leaf
surface. Lesions may grow together. Some
plants have discolored vascular tissue; a wet,
slimy stalk rot; and may wilt.
Best time to scout: VE through R6
Scouting tip: Disease typically starts in the
middle to upper canopy, usually a few days
after a strong thunderstorm that causes hail
or wind damage to leaves. It is more common
in western Iowa.
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•33
Other aboveground diseases
Common smut
Description: Swollen, distorted white
growths called galls can form on ears, tassels,
stalks, and leaves. Galls eventually rupture
to reveal a mass of dark powdery spores.
Infections are localized, so some ears may
be uninfected or galls can form on individual
kernels.
Scouting tip: Incidence is higher among
plants grown in soil high in nitrogen or injured
by hail, wind, insects, cultivation, or detasseling.
Head smut
Description: Galls form on the tassels and
ears but rarely on the leaves. Ears are almost
always smutted and the entire ear shoot
becomes a large gall covered only by the
husk leaves. Galls eventually break open and
expose black spore masses. Also, leaf-like
proliferations may develop on the tassels.
Plants may be severely stunted.
Best time to scout: R2 through R6
Scouting tip: Head smut is more severe
when nitrogen is deficient and when fields
are dry. However, it rarely occurs in the
United States.
•
34 Corn field guide
Anthracnose top dieback
Description: Early symptoms are a
yellow, purple, or dead flag leaf (surrounding
the emerging tassel) on scattered plants.
Black lesions form between the leaf sheath
and the stalk at the top of the plant and are
easily seen when the leaf sheath is peeled
back. In moist conditions, a pink gel exudes
from the lesions.The pith is rotted or
discolored in the upper internodes of
split stalks.
corn residue is present and when plants
are stressed.
Crazy top
Description: Symptoms include distortion
and/or stunting of the plant.The tassel
may proliferate, resulting in a very bushy
appearance at the top of the plant. Internodes
may be shortened or lengthened and there
may be a proliferation of ear shoots, narrow
leaves, excessive tillering, or a complete lack
of ear and tassel formation.
Scouting tip: Disease may be found
where prolonged flooding (24 to 48 hours)
or intense rain has occurred during early
vegetative stages.
Maize dwarf mosaic

Description: Yellow spots and streaks
initially appear and can develop into a mottle
or mosaic pattern. Susceptible hybrids may be
stunted when infected early.
Best time to scout: After an aphid
outbreak because several aphid species
transmit the virus
Scouting tip: Disease is more common
in fields with nearby Johnsongrass (also a
host of the virus and only found in southern
Iowa) and on late planted corn. However, this
disease is not common in Iowa.
Corn field guide

•35
Stalk rots
Anthracnose stalk rot
Description: Symptoms include narrow,
water-soaked lesions that grow together to
form large, shiny, black blotches or streaks on
the stalk rind.The interior stalk tissue may be
blackened and shredded.
corn residue is present and when plants are
stressed. Split stalks lengthwise to see the
extent of infection.
Diplodia stalk rot

Description: Diplodia stalk rot appears
as numerous black dots about the size of
a pinhead or smaller that are embedded
in the lower internodes of infected stalks.
These black dots cannot be scraped
easily from the stalk surface. Under very
wet conditions, a white mold may develop
on the stalk surface. Inside the stalk is
discolored and shredded.
•
36 Corn field guide
Fusarium stalk rot
Description: Fusarium stalk rot is difficult
to distinguish from other stalk rots in the
field. Under moist conditions, pink spore
masses may be present at the nodes. Inside
the stalk, the rotted pith may be tan to very
light pink and shredded.
extent of infection. Fusarium stalk rot can
be confused with Diplodia, Gibberella, and
charcoal stalk rots. It is often diagnosed by the
absence of the distinguishing characteristics
(e.g., dark dots) of the other stalk rots.
Gibberella stalk rot

Description: Dark brown streaks may
form on the lower internodes. Black dots
may develop at the nodes and can easily
be scraped off. Inside the stalk, the rotted
pith is light to dark pink and shredded.
Corn field guide

•
37
Charcoal rot
Description: The pith and stalk rind of
plants affected with charcoal rot appear gray
because of the development of numerous
tiny black structures called microsclerotia.
The pith tissue is disintegrated and the
vascular tissue appears granular and gray.
corn residue is present.This disease is
not common in Iowa except in drought
conditions especially during R2 through R6.
Pythium stalk rot

Description: Pythium stalk rot usually causes
decay of the first aboveground internode.
The rind and the pith become soft, brown,
and water soaked.The stalk typically twists
and falls over, but the plant may remain green
for several weeks because the vascular tissue
remains living.
Best time to scout: Unlike other stalk
rots, Pythium and bacterial stalk rot can cause
premature death at any growth stage.
Scouting tip: Pythium stalk rot
predominantly occurs after extended
periods of hot, wet, or very humid weather
and is rarely seen in Iowa.
Bacterial stalk rot

Description: Bacterial stalk rot usually
causes decay of one or more internodes
above the soil.The rind and pith become soft,
brown, and water soaked.The decayed tissue
usually has an unpleasant odor.
Best time to scout: Unlike other stalk
rots, Pythium and bacterial stalk rot can cause
premature death at any growth stage.
Scouting tip: Bacterial stalk rot may occur
after extended periods of flooding or high
temperatures and high humidity, or when
corn is sprinkler irrigated with surface waters.
This disease is rarely seen in Iowa.
•
38 Corn field guide
Ear rots
Fusarium ear rot
Description: Symptoms include a white to
pink, cottony mold that can begin anywhere
on the ear but often begins with insect-
damaged or split kernels. Usually the entire
ear is not rotted and affected kernels are
scattered across the ear. Infected kernels
are usually tan or brown or have white
streaks.The fungus produces the
mycotoxin fumonisin.
prevalent with hot and dry weather at and
after R1. Fusarium ear rot is more common
in fields that have a high incidence of insect-
damaged ears and where previously infected
corn residue is present. Fusarium ear rot is
more common in non-BT corn because of
greater insect damage to ears.
Gibberella ear rot

Description: Gibberella ear rot develops
as a red or pink mold that almost always
begins at the tip of the ear. The silks and husks
may stick to the ear due to mold growth. In
severe cases, the pink mold is visible on the
outside of the husks at the ear tip.The fungus
produces the mycotoxin vomitoxin.
prevalent with cool and wet weather
just after R1. Disease may be more prevalent
in fields where previously infected corn
residue is present.
Corn field guide

•39
Diplodia ear rot
Description: Diplodia ear rot initially
appears as a white mold beginning at the
base of the ear but eventually becomes
grayish-brown and rots the entire ear. The
mold may be apparent on the outside of the
husk or on the shank.There may be raised
black bumps on the moldy husk or kernels.
prevalent when wet weather occurs
after R1. Disease may be more prevalent
in fields where previously infected corn
residue is present.The ear leaf usually dies
prematurely on infected ears.
Aspergillus ear rot

Description: Aspergillus ear rot appears
as a grayish-green powdery mold that may
begin at the tip of the ear or follow insect
injury tracks. Infected kernels are brownish,
lightweight, and shrunken.The fungus
produces the mycotoxin aflatoxin.
prevalent with hot, droughty weather during
grain fill. Disease is more common in fields
that have a high incidence of insect-damaged
ears and where previously infected corn
residue is present. Aspergillus ear rot is more
common in non-BT corn because of greater
insect damage to ears.
Penicillium ear rot

Description: Penicillium ear rot is a green
or blue-green, powdery mold that occurs
between the kernels usually at the ear tip.
Infected kernels can appear bleached
or streaked.
Scouting tip: Disease occurs primarily on
ears damaged mechanically or by insects.
Penicillium ear rot is more common in
non-BT corn because of greater insect
damage to ears.
•
40 Corn field guide
Nigrospora ear rot
Description: Ears affected by Nigrospora
ear rot are lightweight and chaffy. Kernels are
slightly bleached or streaked and may have
gray to black fungal growth and be peppered
with masses of tiny black spores.This ear rot is
usually not apparent until harvest. Cob tissue
(typically at the shank) shreds when ears are
picked mechanically.
Scouting tip: Disease is occasionally found
in fields with low fertility levels or where corn
is prematurely killed.
Cladosporium ear rot

Description: Cladosporium ear rot is a
dark green or black, powdery mold that also
causes black streaks on kernels. It usually
forms first where kernels are attached to
the cob.
Scouting tip: Disease often infects
kernels that are damaged by insects, hail,
or frost.
Trichoderma ear rot

Description: Trichoderma ear rot is a
dark green mold that grows on or between
kernels and often covers the entire ear.This
disease typically is not economically damaging
because it only occurs on scattered ears.
Scouting tip: Disease is primarily found
on scattered plants under severe stress;
associated with injury to developing ears.
Corn field guide

•41
Seed and root diseases
Seed decay and
seedling blight (damping off)
Description: The first indication of seed
decay is often poor or no stand. Decayed
seeds are very soft and may be covered with
fuzzy fungal growth and are difficult to locate
if badly rotted. Seedlings that do not emerge
generally have water-soaked, brown or black
mesocotyl and/or seminal roots.
Damping off first appears as yellowing and
wilting.The seedlings soon collapse and
die.The nodal roots may show the same
decay symptoms as the seminal roots and
mesocotyl. If the nodal root system survives,
the plant may live but could be stunted.
Best time to scout: VE through V6
Scouting tip: Seed decay and damping
off are more prevalent in cool and wet soils,
particularly in fields with reduced tillage and
greater residue cover.
Root rots
Description: Root rot causes poor, uneven
stands. Infected plants develop lesions on their
roots disrupting their function. Infected plants
may appear yellow and/or stunted and later
have poorly filled ears.
Best time to scout: VE through R2
Scouting tip: Root rots are most prevalent
in wet areas of fields. Corn rootworm
(page 53) feeding also can lead to subsequent
root rot development.
•
42 Corn field guide
Nematodes
Nematodes
Description: Symptoms can occur any time
during the season and are often attributed
to other causes such as poor weather or
soil conditions. Often, the symptoms occur in
patches in the field where numbers of these
microscopic worms are highest. Fields may
have poor or uneven stands. Plants may
appear yellow and stunted and have small
or poorly filled ears. Root damage depends
on the species of nematode present;
damage includes stunting, malformation, and
discolored lesions. Every corn field in Iowa has
some nematodes feeding on the plant roots,
commonly including dagger, lesion, and spiral
nematodes. Damage is determined by the
nematode species present, their population
densities, and the environmental conditions.
Best time to scout: Midseason
Scouting tip: Collect multiple 12-inch-deep
soil cores from the root zone of sick, but
not dead, plants (page 22). Nematodes are
more problematic in dry fields with low
fertility. Nematodes can be more of a concern
in sandy areas.
Corn field guide

•43
Disease look-alikes
Purple leaf sheath
A harmless discoloration sometimes occurs
when saprophytic (non-disease causing) fungi
and bacteria develop on pollen and other
debris that collect between the stalk and
leaf sheath.The stalk under the sheath is not
discolored or infected. Purple leaf sheath
typically shows up between R2 and R6 when
weather is warm, wet, and humid.
Genetic stripes, leaf spots,

and flecks
Some symptoms may be confused with
infectious diseases, especially viruses and
eyespot. Affected plants often are scattered
throughout the field.
•
44 Corn field guide
Insects
Insects Insects
Timely recognition and correct identification are crucial

steps when managing insect pests of corn.
Insect pests
Seedcorn maggot
Description: The larvae (maggots) are up
to 1⁄4 inch long, dirty white, narrowly pointed
at the head end, legless, and have two dark
spots on the broader tail end. Larvae may be
found with the seed or dark, reddish-brown
cocoons may be in the soil nearby. The adult
resembles a small house fly.
Damage: Larvae feed on germinating seeds,
partially hollowing the seed out and killing the
plant embryo.
Best time to scout: From planting to VE
Scouting tip: Scout for injury in fields
where spring-applied animal manure or
living weeds were incorporated prior to
planting because adult flies lay their eggs in the
decaying organic matter and the larvae then
attack the seeds.
White grubs
Description: The larvae or grubs are white
with brown heads and six small legs.The hind
part of the body is smooth and shiny with
dark body contents showing through the skin.
Grubs may be over an inch long when fully
grown and often curl into a “C” shape.The
true white grub has a three-year life cycle
whereas the annual white grub has a one-year
life cycle.The true white grub has two parallel
rows of small, stiff hairs (called the zipper)
on the belly side of the tail.The annual
white grub has small scattered hairs with
no distinctive pattern.
Damage: True white grubs eat the roots.
The annual white grub is not usually an
economic problem in field corn.
Scouting tip: Infestations are most common
in fields two years following pasture (because
of the three-year life cycle) or in fields
adjacent to cottonwood or willow trees. True white grub (left) and annual
Look in areas where emergence is poor; white grub (right)
dig in the seed furrow and look for larvae.
•
46 Corn field guide
Wireworms
Description: Larvae are either hard bodied
and yellowish-orange or soft bodied and
primarily white except for a dark head and
tail section, which is scalloped. Wireworm
larvae can be up to 11⁄2 inches long.
Damage: Larvae bore into the seed before
or during germination and hollow it out.
Death of a seedling also can occur when
wireworms tunnel into the base of the small plant. Sometimes wireworms
burrow into the stalks of larger plants several inches above the soil.
Scouting tip: Look for missing plants. Where plants have not emerged, dig
up seeds or adjacent plants and check for wireworm larvae. Injury is more
common in corn planted following pasture.
Corn flea beetle

Description: Adult beetles are very small
(1⁄16 inch), shiny, and black, brown, or gray.
They jump readily if disturbed.
Damage: Adults scrape long scars into the
leaf surface of seedling plants, which may
cause a bleached appearance. Injury is most
severe during cool springs.They also transmit
the Stewart’s disease bacterium (page 33).
Best time to scout: During the first three
weeks after VE and again in early R stages
Scouting tip: Look for plants that are lighter
colored or have wilted leaves.
Corn field guide

•47
Black cutworm
Description: Larvae are up to 13⁄4 inches
long, nearly uniform light gray to almost black
with grainy-textured skin. Each body segment
has two pairs of dark tubercles (bumps) on
the back; the front pair is smaller and closer
together than the back pair.
Damage: Small larvae chew holes in the
leaves. Older larvae are capable of cutting
small plants through V5.
Best time to scout: Mid- to late May until
corn reaches V5 (table on page 26)
Scouting tip: Look for missing and injured
plants, especially in weedy or low-lying, damp
areas. Larvae may hide adjacent to cut plants
in the soil and under crop residue. Larvae
feed at night or during cloudy days but hide
in the soil during bright daylight.
Dingy cutworm
Description: Larvae are up to 13⁄4 inches long. Paired tubercles (bumps)
on each body segment are approximately the same size.
Damage: Larvae eat small holes in leaves or along the leaf edges but rarely
cut the stem. Injury is usually not economically important.
Best time to scout: As early planted corn emerges
Scouting tip: Look for injured plants, especially in weedy or low-lying, damp
areas. Larvae may hide adjacent to injured plants in the soil.
•
48 Corn field guide
Glassy cutworm
Description: Larvae are milky white with internal organs that can be seen
through the skin.The head is solid orange.
Damage: Injury to seedlings resembles that caused by other cutworm
species.
Scouting tip: Scout fields that are planted following grass pasture or
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Look for plants with leaf feeding or
that are cut. Dig damaged plants and look through the soil for larvae.
Bronzed cutworm
Description: The larvae have seven stripes, four brown and three light
orange, running the length of the body.The body has a bronze sheen.
Damage: Larvae feed on seedlings, eating irregularly shaped holes in the
leaves and cutting plants.
Scouting tip: Larvae are most likely found in fields that were previously in
grass pasture. Look for plants with leaf feeding or that are cut.
Sandhill cutworm
Description: Larvae are light tan, translucent,
and have two thin dark stripes along the back.
Larvae hatch in the fall and overwinter.
Damage: Sandhill cutworms injure leaves
and cut plants. Most of the cutting occurs
underground.
Best time to scout: As plants emerge
Scouting tip: Can be a problem in very
sandy fields. If plants are missing or plants
have holes in the leaves, carefully look for
larvae in the soil.
Corn field guide

• 49
Slug
Description: Slugs are similar to snails but without shells. Slugs have a “foot”
that produces a slimy trail.
Damage: Slugs strip the leaves of young plants by eating the softer leaf tissue,
leaving only the veins.
Scouting tip: Slugs are more likely to cause
damage in northeastern Iowa, most often in
no-tilled fields with heavy residue or in fields
following alfalfa.
Billbug
Description: Billbugs are gray, brown, or
nearly black beetles with a long snout. Adults
of the several species range from 1⁄ 5 to 3⁄4 inch
long. Billbugs hide at the base of plants during
the day, are frequently covered with soil, and
play dead when disturbed.The larvae are
dull white, legless, brown- to yellow-headed,
humpbacked grubs.
Damage: Adults chew through young plants
forming rows of oval holes across emerging
leaves. Larvae feeding inside the base of the
stem and roots cause serious injury; feeding
by several larvae on a single plant may
prevent ear development. Injured plants are
usually tillered (multiple shoots) and stunted
with twisted leaves.
Scouting tip: Scout in low-lying, wet areas
of the field that have weedy grasses or yellow
nutsedge. Check plants with injured leaves and
look at the base of plants for beetles hiding in
the soil or in crop residue.
•
50 Corn field guide
Brown stink bug
Description: Adults are slightly more than
1
⁄2 inch long, triangular, and dull brown with
yellow undersides. Nymphs are greenish-
brown and slightly oval on the tail end.
Damage: Brown stink bug injects a plant
toxin while feeding on sap. Injured seedlings
may die and older plants may tiller. Expanded
leaves are wrinkled with holes that range
from pinhole to 2 inches long.The holes are
either scattered randomly or are in repeating
patterns often with a yellow halo.Tightly
wrapped whorl leaves may fail to expand.
Best time to scout: VE through V4;
noticeable symptoms persist long after
feeding.
Scouting tip: Fields with spring broadleaf
weed growth, especially shepherd’s purse, are
more likely to have brown stink bugs.
Hop vine borer

Description: Larvae are cream colored
with dark brown to purple square spots along
the back. Each spot has two black tubercles
(bumps).The head is solid orange.
Damage: Larvae tunnel into young plants
attacking the underground portion of corn
and tunneling up from underneath the plant
to hollow out the base of the stalk. Plants
damaged before V8 often die; after V8, plants
become stunted with wilted whorls.
Scouting tip: Damage is most common in
border rows adjacent to grassy areas. Look for
wilted plants and plants with newly emerged
central leaves that are dying. Dig injured
plants to find larvae that have burrowed
into the stalk underground. Infestations in
Iowa have only occurred in the northeastern
quarter of the state.
Corn field guide

•51
Armyworm
Description: Larvae have dull orange stripes
along each side of the body. Fleshy prolegs on
the abdomen have dark bands along their sides.
Damage: Armyworms feed on the leaves of
both seedlings and mature plants and can cause
severe defoliation.They consume the softer
leaf tissue, leaving the tougher midribs and
stalk. Larvae typically start feeding on the lower
leaves before moving to the upper leaves.
The head is brown with a network of dark
lines (page 58).
Best time to scout: June or when grassy weeds are killed with herbicides
Scouting tip: Early season problems occur in no-tilled fields that were
in pasture or sod previously or that have heavy grassy weed populations.
Late season problems occur when small grain crops mature and the
armyworms migrate into adjacent corn.
Stalk borer
Description: Young larvae have cream-colored stripes that alternate with
dark brown to purple stripes. A dark purple section occurs laterally directly
behind the true legs.The dark stripes and purple section fade as larvae age.
All larvae have a black stripe on each side of the head.
Damage: Larvae attack plants from about V5 to V10. Larvae may feed in
the whorl or burrow directly into the stalk, sometimes killing the growing
point. Emerging leaves often have numerous large holes in a repeating pattern
across the leaf and may be cut completely. Infested plants are often stunted.
Best time to scout: Larvae normally move from grass into corn in June
(table on page 26). Stalk borers are unlikely to kill corn beyond V7.
Scouting tip: Stalk borers are more common in border rows next to grassy
areas such as waterways and fence lines.
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52 Corn field guide
Corn rootworm
(western and northern)
Description: Western corn rootworm
adults are yellow with black stripes or may
have nearly solid black wing covers. Northern
corn rootworm adults are solid yellow, tan, or
green. Adults of both species are about 1⁄4 inch
long. Larvae of both species are white with
three pairs of very small legs, a dark brown
head, and a brown plate on the top of the
last abdominal segment.
Damage: Larvae chew on roots, which can
lead to lodged plants. Adults of both species
feed on silks, which may reduce pollination.
Adult western corn rootworms also feed
on leaves.
Best time to scout: A majority of larvae
can be found on roots during June. Adults
begin emerging from the soil during early July.
Peak adult populations typically occur the
last week of July through the first two weeks
of August.
Scouting tip: Dig roots in late June and
wash off the soil in a pail of water. Larvae
will float on the water. Adults can be visually
counted on the plant and are usually more
numerous on silks.
Grape colaspis
Description: Larvae are off white, 1⁄8 to
3
⁄16 inch long, comma-shaped grubs.The tan
heads help differentiate them from other
grubs. Adults are yellow-brown, 1⁄5-inch-long
beetles with wing covers that appear striped
due to longitudinal rows of shallow pits.
Damage: Larvae feed on root surfaces
and remove root hairs, which reduces plant
uptake of water and nutrients and may
cause aboveground symptoms resembling
potassium deficiency (page 68).
Scouting tip: Dig plants and carefully
remove them from the ground with the
roots and soil ball intact. Examine the soil for
larvae, which are usually found close to the
roots. Most damage in Iowa has been in seed
production fields.
Corn field guide

•53
European corn borer
Description: Young larvae are dull white,
while older larvae are dirty white to light tan
with darker, halo-shaped spots and a dark line
down the center of the back. Except for the
sod webworm (uncommonly found in Iowa
corn), European corn borer larvae are the
only caterpillars on corn with a dark brown
or black head.There are two, or rarely three,
generations a year.
Damage: Larvae feed on any aboveground
portion of corn. Newly hatched larvae eat
leaf tissue or pollen that has collected in leaf
axils. Before tasseling, larvae feed deep inside
the whorl.They also may tunnel inside the
leaf midrib. Older larvae tunnel into the
developing tassel, the stalk near leaf collars,
the ear shank, and/or the ear.
Best time to scout: First-generation
egg masses are laid during June. Second-
generation egg masses are laid in late July
and August.
Scouting tip: European corn borers prefer
to lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves.
First-generation larvae can be found by
removing the whorl and unrolling the new
leaves. Second-generation larvae are very
difficult to find; focus on eggs laid on leaves
near the ear.
Grasshopper
Description: Adults are dark yellowish-
green and up to 13⁄4 inches long. Nymphs
resemble adults but lack fully developed
wings.
Damage: Nymphs may consume seedling
plants, but this is rare. Adults consume all leaf
tissue except the midrib and may chew into
the husk and feed on developing kernels.
Best time to scout: July to September
Scouting tip: Damage is more likely to
occur along border rows near weedy or
grassy areas. Outbreaks are more likely after
two or more years of dry weather.
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54 Corn field guide
Two-spotted spider mite
Description: Adults are the size of salt
grains and are greenish-yellow to brown with
two dark spots. First stage immature mites
(nymphs) have six legs; older nymphs and
adults have eight legs.
Damage: Spider mites remove liquids from
leaves causing premature drying, which results
in the loss of leaf tissue, stalk breakage, and
kernel shrinkage. Damaged leaves turn yellow
and are stippled on the upper surface and
grayish on the under surface.
Best time to scout: July, particularly during
drought stress
Scouting tip: Scout field edges and
spots within the field that border perennial
vegetative cover.To scout, shake plants over
white paper and look for moving specks.
Use a hand lens to assist with identification.
Corn leaf aphid

Description: Adult aphids are either winged
or wingless, less than 1⁄25 inch long (pinhead
size), greenish-blue with black legs and
cornicles (tailpipe-like structures). Nymphs
look similar to adults but are smaller, lighter
green, and wingless.
Damage: Aphid feeding removes moisture
and nutrients from the upper leaves and
tassels. Aphids secrete honeydew (sugar
water), which may cover tassels and drip
onto leaves and silks.The corn leaf aphids
also may transmit viruses. Some hybrids are
more susceptible than others.
Best time to scout: Just before VT
Scouting tip: Corn leaf aphid is most
problematic during periods of moisture
stress. Scout the entire field to determine
the extent of infestation.
Corn field guide

•
55
Western bean cutworm
Description: Larvae are dark brown when
small, becoming light tan when fully grown
at 11⁄2 inch. Older larvae can be distinguished
from other corn caterpillars by two dark-
brown stripes behind the head.The head is
solid orange.
Damage: Prior to VT, newly hatched larvae
move to the whorl and feed on the flag leaf,
tassel, and other tissue. Once tasseling begins,
they move to the green silks. Older larvae feed
primarily on the ear tip, but some larvae move
outside of the ear, chew through the husk, and
feed on the kernels on the side or shank end
of the ear. Unlike corn earworm, more than
one larva may be found in an ear.
Best time to scout: Initiate scouting
based on local pheromone trap captures
of adults. If trap data are unavailable, begin
scouting at VT.
Scouting tip: Examine the top surface Hatching larvae
of the upper leaves for egg masses.
•
56 Corn field guide
Japanese beetle
Description: Adults are 3⁄4 inch long and
iridescent copper and green. White tufts of
hair are on the sides and tip of the abdomen.
Larvae are 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inch long grubs found in
the soil.
Damage: Adults may clip silks. Leaf injury
is uncommon but consists of parallel holes
between leaf veins.
Best time to scout: Adults are present from mid-June through August.
Larvae are present from late summer through the following June.
Scouting tip: Adults may be found anywhere on the plant but tend to
aggregate on silks. Scout the whole field to determine the extent of an
infestation. Problems are more likely on lighter textured soils.
Corn earworm
Description: Larval color is extremely variable; they can be dark brown,
green, light purple, or yellow. Alternating dark and light stripes run the length
of the body.The skin has numerous tubercles (bumps), each with an erect hair.
The head is mostly orange, or occasionally green, and freckled (page 58).
Damage: Larvae feed in the whorl, on silks, or inside developing ears. Larvae
that tunnel through the developing silks may interfere with pollination and
destroy kernels at the tip.
Best time to scout: Arrival of adult moths from southern states varies each
year. Corn at VT to R1 is most attractive to egg-laying females. Scout at R1 or
when a significant moth flight is captured in pheromone traps.
Scouting tip: Look for small larvae in the silks. Scout each hybrid within a
field separately.
Corn field guide

•57
Fall armyworm
Description: Larvae vary from tan to black
with three light yellow stripes down the
back.There is a wider dark stripe and a wavy
yellow-red blotched stripe on each side. Each
body segment has six distinctive black tubercles
(bumps), each spiked with a long slender hair.
The head is dark brown with a prominent
inverted “Y” (below).
Damage: Larvae feed deep inside the whorl on developing leaves,
occasionally killing the tassel before they emerge and sometimes causing
“windowpane” damage to the leaves. If the tassel is not killed, the plant can
outgrow the feeding injury. After VT, larvae feed on the ear.
Best time to scout: Mid- to late June; continue checking until silks begin
to dry.
Scouting tip: Look in whorls a few days before tasseling for small larvae.
Larvae are rarely a problem in Iowa, but they may cause damage in late
planted (June) corn in the southern counties.
Identification of three caterpillars on corn
Armyworm: Brown head with network of dark lines (left)

Fall armyworm: Dark brown head with prominent inverted “Y” (center)
Corn earworm: Orange, freckled head (right)
•
58 Corn field guide
Beneficial insects
Lady beetles
Lady beetle larvae
Description: Larvae are soft bodied and
shaped like miniature alligators.Young larvae
are gray or black with no bright markings.
Older larvae are gray or black but also have
bright yellow or orange markings.
Beneficial notes: Larvae feed on aphids
and other soft-bodied insects.
Seven-spotted lady beetle

Description: Beetles are 1⁄8-inch long and
have dark reddish wing covers with seven
black spots.The head is black except for a
white square mark behind each eye.
Beneficial notes: These predators feed
primarily on aphids.
Multicolored Asian
lady beetle
Description: Adults are 1⁄8-inch long.Their
wing covers vary from red to yellow and may
or may not contain spots.The area directly
behind the head has a distinctive black
M-shaped marking.
Beneficial notes: These predators feed
primarily on aphids.
Corn field guide

•
59
Crane fly larvae
Description: Crane fly larvae are sometimes mistaken for black cutworms
and therefore unnecessarily treated with insecticides.They differ from
cutworms by lacking three pairs of true legs behind the head and also have
no abdominal legs on the mid- and tail sections of the body. Crane fly larvae
are cylindrical, light gray or brown, and have fleshy projections on the tail.
Beneficial notes: Crane fly larvae do not feed on other insects but do feed
on decaying organic residues and do not injure seeds or young plants.
Green lacewing larvae

Description: Larvae are small, grayish-brown, and have pincher-like mouth-
parts that are used to suck the body fluids out of prey.
Beneficial notes: Larvae feed primarily on aphids, but they also eat insect
eggs, small caterpillars, leafhoppers, and spider mites.
Insidious flower bug

Description: Adults are very small, 1⁄16 inch
long, and black with white markings.They will
bite people.
Beneficial notes: This insect feeds on
spider mites, aphids, small caterpillars, and
insect eggs.
•
60 Corn field guide
Disorders
Corn plants sometimes display symptoms that are not
Disorders
related to diseases or insects. These problems are

important to identify and understand when developing
an effective corn management program.
Corn field guide DRAFT 11
Herbicide injury
ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitors
Description: Symptoms are slow to develop and may appear on any part of
the plant (roots, leaves, ear) that undergoes rapid growth following exposure.
Soil applications may result in short lateral roots (bottlebrush roots). Leaves
emerging after postemergence applications may be yellow or have bands
of yellow or deformed tissue. Stalk internode elongation may be suppressed,
resulting in stunted plants. Applications after V6 can result in ear deformations
(pinched ear). Symptoms may be subtle and difficult to differentiate from
other stresses.
Scouting tip: Injury may be caused by direct application, drift, or carryover.
ALS herbicides may interact with organophosphate insecticides to increase
injury risk.
Products: Accent, Basis, Classic, Pursuit, Resolve Q, Scepter, Steadfast,
and others
•
62 Corn field guide
Root (microtubule) inhibitors
Description: Dinitroaniline (DNA)
herbicides primarily affect the roots, resulting
in swollen root tips and poorly developed
root systems. Root stunting may result in
reduced shoot growth, purple coloration of
leaves, and wilting.
Scouting tip: DNA herbicides may injure
corn from carryover or direct application.
Placement of the product relative to seed
is important. Roots should grow below the
depth of the herbicide. Shallow planting, failure
to close seed furrow, or other factors that
result in roots contacting the herbicide can
result in injury.
Products: Prowl, Treflan, several generic and
private-brand labels
Pigment inhibitors (bleachers)

Description: The predominant symptoms
are leaf yellowing and bleaching (whitening)
of tissue. Injury typically develops on leaves
emerging shortly after exposure to the
herbicide.
Scouting tip: Injury occurs primarily from
direct application to corn. Balance Pro injury
often occurs in areas with coarse-textured or
low organic matter soils.
Products: Balance Flexx, Balance Pro,
Callisto, Impact, and Laudis
Corn field guide

•63
Plant growth regulators
Description: Preemergence applications
may result in failure of shoots to emerge
properly (corkscrewing) or leafing out
underground. Late applications or excessive
rates can result in leaning, brittle stalks, buggy
whipping, or fused root systems.
Scouting tip: Injury occurs primarily from
direct application to corn. Injury is typically
related to application rate, timing, and
environmental conditions.
Products: 2,4-D, Banvel, Clarity, Distinct,
Status, several generic and private-brand labels
ACCase (acetyl-CoA
carboxylase) inhibitors
Description: At lethal concentrations,
ACCase inhibitors cause the growing
point to rot in the whorl. Damage at lower
concentrations includes yellow bands
of tissue on leaves.These abnormal bands
occur closer to the leaf tip on leaves higher on
the plant. Similar symptoms may appear with
other herbicides (ALS inhibitors, glyphosate).
Scouting tip: Injury usually is related to
drift from adjacent soybean fields or from
contaminated sprayers. ACCase inhibitors are
systemic herbicides and symptoms develop
on tissue formed following application.
Products: Assure II, Fusilade DX, Fusion,
Poast Plus, Select, several generic and private-
brand labels
•
64 Corn field guide
Seedling growth inhibitors
Description: Injury symptoms include
improper leaf unfurling and leafing out
underground. Injury may be more
pronounced on certain soil types.
Scouting tip: Injury is from direct
application to corn. Injury is primarily
related to application rate, soil type, and
environmental conditions (more injury
potential under cold, wet conditions).
Products: Cinch, Dual II Magnum, Harness,
INTRRO, Micro-Tech, Outlook, Surpass,
TopNotch, and others
Glutamine synthetase
inhibitors
Description: Symptoms appear within a few
days of application as yellowish-green lesions
on leaves, which turn brown and die. Injury
may resemble frost damage. Glufosinate
injury develops quicker than glyphosate
injury (page 66), particularly in cool weather;
however, warmer weather causes injury to
progress faster for both. Glufosinate is not
readily translocated.
Scouting tip: Injury may be caused by drift,
tank contamination, or misapplication to
non-tolerant corn.
Products: Ignite and Liberty
Corn field guide

•65
PPO (protoporphyrinogen
oxidase) inhibitors
Description: Foliar applications of PPO
inhibitors commonly result in the rapid death
of tissues contacted by the spray. Occasionally,
leaves within the whorl at the time of
application are damaged, which interferes
with unfurling of newer leaves. Carryover of
Flexstar and Reflex may cause veins to yellow
or die.
Scouting tip: Direct application of PPO
inhibitors to corn is the most common cause
of problems, but some PPO inhibitors used in
soybean occasionally cause carryover injury.
Products: Aim, Cobra, Flexstar, Phoenix,
Reflex, UltraBlazer, Valor, and others
EPSPS (enolpyruvyl
shikimate phosphate
synthase) inhibitors
Description: EPSPS inhibitor (glyphosate)
injury causes yellow bands on leaves of
non-tolerant hybrids. As symptoms progress,
the entire plant may appear yellow. Another
symptom is wilted leaves, which then turn
brown and die. Injury symptoms usually
develop slowly but may be accelerated with
hot weather. Once absorbed by foliage,
glyphosate is readily translocated throughout
the plant. Plants usually die in 7 to 14 days.
Scouting tip: Injury may be caused by drift,
tank contamination, or misapplication to
non-tolerant corn.
Products: Roundup,Touchdown, generic
glyphosate, and others
Products that are premixes representing more

than one herbicide class are not included in this
field guide.
Neither endorsement nor criticism is implied by
Iowa State University of products mentioned or
not mentioned in this publication.
•
66 Corn field guide
Nutrient deficiencies
Nitrogen deficiency
Description: Nitrogen deficiency causes
pale, yellowish-green plants with spindly
stalks. Because nitrogen is mobile in the plant,
symptoms begin on the older leaves and
progress up the plant if the deficiency persists.
Deficiency appears on leaves as V-shaped
yellowing starting at the tip and progressing
down the midrib toward the leaf base.
Scouting tip: Nitrogen deficiency is caused
by inadequate fertilization, leaching following
heavy rainfall, or denitrification from flooding
with warm soil temperatures. Symptoms
are more common on cold or saturated
soils, sandy soils, and dry soils particularly
after midseason.
Phosphorus deficiency
Description: Symptoms usually are visible
on young plants. Plants are dark green with
reddish-purple leaf tips and margins on older
leaves. Newly emerging leaves will not show
the coloration. Phosphorus-deficient plants
are smaller and grow slower than plants with
adequate phosphorus. Deficiency symptoms
nearly always disappear by the time plants
reach three feet tall.
Scouting tip: Phosphorus deficiency is
favored by cold soils that are too wet or too
dry and where compacted soils, root rots,
insects, herbicides, fertilizers, or cultivation
have restricted root development.
Corn field guide

•67
Potassium deficiency
Description: Symptoms first appear as
yellowing and dying of lower leaf margins.
Plants with impaired root systems are most
likely to show symptoms after about V6
when plant potassium uptake increases.
Potassium is mobile in the plant. If the
deficiency persists, symptoms develop on
higher leaves. Potassium-deficient corn tends
to lodge late in the season.
Scouting tip: Potassium deficiency is favored
by conditions that limit early root growth—
root pruning, root rots, dry soils, compacted
soils, and seed-trench sidewall smearing. Symptoms also are associated with
low-potassium testing soils, sandy soils, and are more common in reduced
tillage systems, especially in dry seasons.
Magnesium deficiency
Description: Initial symptoms are yellow to
white interveinal stripes on the lower leaves.
Dead, round spots sometimes follow, which
look like beaded streaking. Older leaves
become reddish-purple and the tips and
edges may die if the deficiency is severe.
Magnesium is mobile in the plant.
Scouting tip: Magnesium deficiency is
favored by low pH, sandy soils in regions of
moderate to high rainfall where magnesium
has been extensively leached from the soil
profile. On soils marginal with crop-available
magnesium, deficiency can be induced by
high soil potassium levels or high rates of
applied potassium.
•
68 Corn field guide
Sulfur deficiency
Description: Deficiency appears on smaller
plants as general yellowing, similar to nitrogen
deficiency.Yellowing of the upper leaves is
more pronounced with sulfur deficiency than
with nitrogen deficiency because sulfur is not
easily translocated. Interveinal yellowing of the
youngest leaves may occur.
Scouting tip: Deficiency is favored by low
pH, sandy soils, low soil organic matter, eroded
soils, side-slope landscape position, no-till
systems, and cold, dry soils in the spring
that delay the release of sulfur from organic
matter. Early season symptoms may disappear
as temperature and moisture conditions
improve for mineralization of sulfur from
organic matter or as roots reach plant-
available sulfate.
Zinc deficiency
Description: Symptoms appear as
interveinal, light striping or a bleached
band beginning at the base of the leaf and
extending toward the tip.The margins of the
leaf, the midrib area, and the leaf tip usually
remain green. Internodes may be shortened.
Zinc is relatively immobile in the plant. Severe
zinc deficiency may result in new leaves that
are nearly white, an effect called “white bud.”
Scouting tip: Zinc deficiency is favored by
high soil pH, especially on cool and wet soils
that have low organic matter. Zinc deficiency
is more common where high rates of
phosphorus are applied on soils with
low zinc availability. However, high soil-test
phosphorus alone does not create
zinc deficiency.
Corn field guide

•69
Fertilizer injury
Anhydrous ammonia (NH3)
Vapor damage can occur when ammonia
escapes during sidedressing.Tissue that
contacts the ammonia is scorched and dies,
but plants usually survive if only a portion of
the leaves is damaged.
Anhydrous ammonia injury to roots
results in uneven seedling emergence, slow
growth, plants with a spiked and blue-green
appearance, and wilting of seedlings. Injury
causes brown roots and if severely injured,
roots die and turn black back to the seed.
Ammonia injury is seen more frequently in
dry weather because roots are slow growing
and water uptake is limited.
Healthy
NH3
injured
Broadcast urea-ammonium nitrate solution

(28% or 32% UAN)
UAN can burn leaf tissue when broadcast on top of growing corn. UAN
solutions tend to move toward the leaf tip and margins, resulting in greater
burning of those areas. Plants usually outgrow the damage if only a portion of
the leaves is injured. However, leaf damage and potential yield impacts increase
with higher application rates and larger plants.
•
70 Corn field guide
Urea
Granular urea broadcast across the top of
growing corn results in some granules falling
in the whorl and lodging in leaf axils.Tan to
white burn spots appear on leaves where
granules lodge. Leaf margins also may be
burned. Plants outgrow this injury unless a
large amount of material lodges in the whorl,
severely damaging leaves or injuring the
growing point.
Urea-containing fertilizers banded with or
near the seed can result in uneven seedling
emergence, stand loss, slow growth, and
damaged roots as free ammonia is released
during its conversion to ammonium.
Biuret, which
is an impurity
in urea,
can cause
deformed
plants or leaves
that do not
unroll when
urea is placed
with seed.
Corn field guide
• 71
Early season stresses
Frost
Frost results in the death of exposed plant
tissue and occurs when air temperatures
drop below 29ºF. Initial damage is wilted,
water-soaked tissue.The growing point is
underground until V6; therefore, seedlings
can recover from frost except when the soil
is frozen. Plants with only leaf damage will
likely resume growth. With good growing
conditions, seedlings should develop a new
leaf 3 to 4 days after the frost. Seedlings may
rot if poor weather follows. Assess replant
options based on surviving stands and date
(pages 11–12). Seedlings with dark, water-
soaked growing points will not survive.
Reddish-purple leaves
Leaves of young seedlings exposed to cool
air and soil temperatures along with wet
conditions may exhibit a purplish tint.
Most often this coloring is related to stress
to the young seedling and/or restricted
root development (compacted soils, etc).
Purpling from restricted root development
caused by cold temperatures or seedbed
problems is often temporary and plants
recover as weather improves. As such, yield
should not be affected. Leaf purpling is more
pronounced in some hybrids.
•
72 Corn field guide
Rootless corn syndrome
Rootless corn appears between V3 to V8
when most or all nodal roots are missing.
Existing nodal roots may be stubby and
not anchored to the soil. Without an
adequate root system, affected plants may
lodge, wilt, be stunted, or die. Rootless corn
is attributed to many things, including hot and
dry surface soils, excessive rainfall that erodes
soil near the plant base, or strong winds that
break upper roots or inhibit establishment of
a strong root system. Rootless corn is more
likely with shallow plantings, compact soils, and
loose or cloddy soils. In loose soils or with
rotary hoeing, shoots are exposed to light
sooner than normal, causing nodal roots to
form closer to the surface. Plants can recover
if rainfall promotes nodal root development.
Row cultivation to move soil over exposed
roots can aid in recovery but may not be
an option if plants are lodged or in no-till
situations.
Crusting and “leafing out”

underground
Crusting is caused by planting in wet soils,
intensive tillage over the row, and heavy
rains after planting. It is worse when these
factors are coupled with fine-textured
soils. Crusted soils can delay or inhibit
seedling emergence, and limit nodal
root growth.
Count the number of emerged plants and
determine if struggling seedlings will reach
the soil surface. Assess replant options based
on surviving stands and date (pages 11–12).
Consider rotary hoeing for breaking crust in
some situations, although hoeing may reduce
stands by 5–10 percent.
Corn field guide

•
73
Flooding or prolonged saturated soils
Plants growing in flooded soils may turn yellow, wilt, and eventually can die.
Soil oxygen needed for the plant to survive is depleted within about 48 hours
of soil saturation.Things to consider when assessing the risks of damage or
death from flooded soils include:
• Flooding before V6 is more damaging than later.
• Completely submerged plants are at higher risk for damage than those
partially submerged.
• The longer flooding persists, plant damage and death increases.
• Soil temperature affects how quickly plants are damaged by flooding.
Seedlings can survive up to four days of flooding when temperatures are
relatively cool (mid-60°F or cooler) but fewer days if temperatures are
warm (mid-70°F or warmer).
• Flooding damages roots, making plants more susceptible to stresses later in
the season.
• Substantial amounts of nitrogen can be lost from flooded soils due to
denitrification and nitrate leaching.
• Flooding or wet soils favor the development of seed decay and seedling
blights (page 42) as well as crazy top (page 35).
• As flood water subsides, mud deposits on plants can reduce photosynthesis.
• As the soil dries, a crust may form and cause emergence problems for
replanted crops.
Assess replant options based on surviving stands and date (pages 11–12).
•
74 Corn field guide
Midseason stresses
Drought
Corn uses approximately 1⁄3 inch of water per
day at R1, which is the highest water need
of the season. When plants are moisture
stressed, silk emergence can be delayed.
A lack of synchronization between pollen
shed and silk emergence can result in poor
pollination, reducing yield potential.
Corn leaves roll during major moisture stress

to reduce water loss. Leaf rolling reduces
carbohydrate production, which may be
associated with yield reductions.
Corn field guide

•75
Hail damage
Hail damage is estimated from stand loss (page 11) and leaf area loss
(table below) relative to the developmental stage at the time of the hail
storm. Waiting 7 to 10 days after a hail storm can improve damage appraisal.
Hail damage that occurs before V6 rarely affects yield.
Estimated percent yield reduction caused by hail damage

Percent Leaf Area Destroyed
Stage 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
V7 0 0 0 1 2 4 5 6 8 9
V10 0 0 2 4 6 8 9 11 14 16
V13 0 1 3 6 10 13 17 22 28 34
V16 1 3 6 11 18 23 31 40 49 61
V18 2 5 9 15 24 33 44 56 69 84
VT 3 7 13 21 31 42 55 68 83 100
R1 3 7 12 20 29 39 51 65 80 97
R2 2 5 10 16 22 30 39 50 60 73
R3 1 3 7 12 18 24 32 41 49 59
R4 1 2 4 8 12 17 23 29 35 41
R5 0 0 2 4 7 10 14 17 20 23
R6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: USDA
•
76 Corn field guide
Root lodging
Root lodging occurs when a plant with
a shallow or small root system leans from
wind, especially in saturated soils. Shallow
root systems are associated with poor
seed placement and cool, wet soils during
vegetative stages. Small root systems are
associated with corn rootworm larvae
feeding, root rots, compacted soils, and
overall poor root development. Root lodging
may be partially compensated if the plant
resumes vertical growth (goosenecking).
Approximate yield loss from root lodging

Developmental Stage Approximate Percent Yield Lossa
V10 to V12 Less than 5
V13 to V15 5–15
V17 or later Up to 30
a
All plants lodged.
Adapted from Carter and Hudelson. 1988. J. Prod. Agric.
Goosenecked corn plants
Corn field guide

•77
Buggy whipping
As leaves emerge, they may become trapped
in the whorl or twisted and fail to unfurl.
This is referred to as buggy whipping, rapid
growth syndrome, roping, wrapped whorls,
onion leafing, or twisted whorls. Leaves
typically unfurl within a week or two and
will be very yellow and appear crinkled.The
cause can vary, but hail damage, herbicide
injury (page 64), and the plant transitioning
to rapid growth at V6 are all factors. Unless
leaves never unfurl, there likely will be little
effect on yield.
Greensnap
Greensnap is midseason stalk breakage.
Plants normally break at a node below the
primary ear. Greensnap is most likely to
occur from about V10 until just prior to VT.
Broken plants still may produce a small ear
with or without kernels. If the plant breaks
too low or too late to produce an ear, yield
loss will be directly related to the number of
plants broken.
High nutrient levels, high organic-matter soils,
and tillage all favor rapid growth and increase
susceptibility to greensnap. Some hybrids may
be more prone to greensnap than others.
•
78 Corn field guide
Stalk lodging
Plants that lodge late in the season typically
lean or break near the soil. Stalks prone
to lodge may seem hollow when pinched.
This is from the inside tissue rotting (stalk rot).
Stresses during the growing season can favor
stalk rot development.These stresses include
severe leaf diseases or hail damage, drought
or soil saturation, lack of sunlight, extended
cool weather, low potassium in relation to
nitrogen, and insect damage.
Ideally, scout fields about 40 to 60 days after
R1 and pay special attention to areas that
experienced stress during the growing season.
Pinching the lowest aboveground internode
is a quick way to check for stalk rot. Split
stalks lengthwise to see the extent of stalk rot
infection. Check at least 100 plants scattered
throughout the field.
Harvest losses increase dramatically as
lodging increases. If more than 10 percent
of the stalks are rotted (stalks are very soft),
schedule harvest as early as possible to
reduce significant lodging. However, there
may be an economic trade-off because
drying costs for early harvested grain are
often higher.
Corn field guide

•79
Abnormal ears
1. Tip dieback
Symptoms: Lack of or poor kernel development on the last inch or more
of the ear tip. Affected kernels may be dried up and often are light yellow.
Causes: Drought and high temperatures, foliar diseases, cloudy weather, and
possibly nitrogen deficiency during R2 and R3
2. Chaffy ears
Symptoms: Ears are lightweight with shrunken kernels that leave spaces
between kernels from poor fill.
Causes: Frost damage, premature plant death from drought, foliar disease,
severe potassium deficiency, or hail from R4 through R5
3. Zipper ears (banana ears)

Symptoms: Partially to completely missing kernel rows on the underside of
the ear from kernel abortion and/or lack of pollination. Ears often bend (like a
banana) due to differential kernel formation along ear.
Causes: Often associated with nitrogen deficiency, severe drought stress, or
defoliation following pollination
1. 2. 3.
•
Adapted from Thomison and Geyer. 2007. Abnormal Corn Ears. The Ohio State University. ACE-1.
80 Corn field guide

4. Ear pinching
Symptoms: Kernel row number may be decreased by half somewhere
between the ear shank end and tip, while ear length is usually normal.
Causes: Severe stress during V7 through V10 and/or late broadcast
application of some ALS herbicides (page 62)
5. Blunt ear syndrome

Symptoms: Ears are markedly short with fewer kernels per row but with
normal numbers of rows per ear.The ear tip is extremely small compared to
the lower portion of the ear. Husk length may be normal.
Causes: Multiple possibilities are proposed; temperature stress (brief cold
shock) during V8 through V12 or applications of pesticides before VT are often
contributing factors.
6. Drought-damaged ears (nubbin ears)

Symptoms: Small, misshaped ears with poor kernel set, especially at ear
tip. Ears can have fewer kernel rows or kernels per row, depending on when
drought occurs.
Causes: Severe drought from mid-vegetative stages through R3. Nitrogen
deficiency and excessive plant populations can contribute to damage.
4. 5. 6.
•
Corn field guide 81

7. Poor, incomplete kernel set
Symptoms: An ear formed with reduced
kernel set because of poor pollination. When
severe, ears have scattered kernels or no
distinct kernel rows (right).
Causes: Poor pollination is due to mistiming
of pollen shed and silking, often caused by
drought and high temperatures, uneven crop
development, herbicides, insect feeding and silk
clipping, and phosphorus deficiency.
8. Multiple ear syndrome

(bouquet ears)
Symptoms: Multiple ears (up to 5 or 6) at
one node. Kernel set may be poor on some
or all of the ears.
Causes: Often hybrid specific although exact
cause is unknown; similar to those noted
under “Blunt ear syndrome” (page 81)
9. Tassel ears
Symptoms: A tassel ear contains both male
(tassel) and female (ear) flowers. Only a few
kernels develop on the ear. Tassel ears often
appear on tillers (suckers).
Causes: Tillers are produced when the
growing point is injured by hail, frost, flooding,
herbicides, and mechanical injury. Some
hybrids are more prone to tiller in field edges
when early season soil compaction and
saturated soils occur.
•
82 Corn field guide

Acknowledgments
Editors: Daren Mueller and Rich Pope
Contributors: Lori Abendroth, Roger Elmore, Bob Hartzler,
Clarke McGrath, Daren Mueller, Gary Munkvold, Rich Pope,
Marlin E. Rice, Alison Robertson, John Sawyer, Kristine Schaefer,
Jon Tollefson, and Greg Tylka
Designer: Donna Halloum
Photo credits: Copyright as noted below:
Iowa State University—Lori Abendroth, George Cummins, Roger Elmore,
Bob Hartzler, Kyle Jensen, Laura Jesse, Benjamin Kaeb, Brian Lang,
Mark Licht, Susan Moser, Daren Mueller, Gary Munkvold, Rich Pope,
Alison Robertson, John Sawyer, Kristine Schaefer, Greg Tylka, and
Regis Voss
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service—(silage cutter, page 15)
University of Illinois—Scott Bretthauer (aerial sprayer, page 23);
Don White (carbonum leaf spot race 2, page 30); Mike Meyer (maize dwarf
mosaic, page 35)
North Carolina State University, Department of Plant Pathology Archive,
Bugwood.org—(bacterial stalk rot, page 38)
Marlin E. Rice, former Iowa State University entomologist—(all insect
images, pages 45–60 except for bottom image of corn flea beetle, page 47;
grape colaspis larva, page 53; spider mite damage, page 55; Japanese beetle,
page 57; bottom two lady beetle larvae, page 59)
University of Missouri Extension—(ACCase inhibitor and seedling growth
inhibitor, pages 64, 65)
The Ohio State University—(all images, pages 80–82)
Special thanks to: Stephen K. Barnhart, Betsy Buffington, Kyle Jensen,
Tamsyn Jones, Mark Licht, Barb McBreen, Brian Meyer,Wayne Pedersen,
Aaron Saeugling, Adam Sisson, and Susan Thompson for critical review.
. . . and justice for all

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and
marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA
clients.To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil
Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue
SW,Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-9564.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and

June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Jack M. Payne, director, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State
University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
Corn field guide

• 83
Corn FIELD GUIDE
A reference for identifying diseases,
insect pests, and disorders of corn.
Integrated Pest Management
Iowa CCA
© 2009 Iowa State University

of Science and Technology
All rights reserved.
CSI 0001
Corn field guide
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A reference for identifying

© 2009 Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Maximizing corn yields and grain quality demands

Corn Management Field Guide

Corn field guide

be counted; otherwise, the

the vegetative stage.

R1: Silks emerge and stress (especially drought) can

Corn field guide

Mesocotyl Nodal roots

Example of calculating degree days

Corn field guide

Corn field guide

Relative yield potential of corn by planting date and population

Corn field guide

Corn field guide

Integrated pest management (IPM) protects crops

Corn field guide DRAFT

Washing roots to estimate insect damage

Checking a pheromone-baited trap

Corn field guide

Collecting soil samples during the season

Fungicides are often aerially applied.

Corn field guide

Corn field guide

Corn field guide DRAFT

Gray leaf spot

Common rust and southern rust

Corn field guide

Carbonum leaf spot

Leaf with eyespot: on left without backlighting; on right with backlighting

Corn field guide

Holcus leaf spot

Corn field guide

Maize dwarf mosaic

Corn field guide

Diplodia stalk rot

Gibberella stalk rot

Corn field guide

Pythium stalk rot

Bacterial stalk rot

Gibberella ear rot

Corn field guide

Aspergillus ear rot

Penicillium ear rot

Cladosporium ear rot

Trichoderma ear rot

Corn field guide

Corn field guide

Genetic stripes, leaf spots,

Timely recognition and correct identification are crucial

Corn flea beetle