News

First case of corn stunt confirmed in MO

University of Missouri Extension says corn stunt has been confirmed in southwest Missouri, the first time the disease has been confirmed in the state.

An agronomist discovered symptoms of the uncommon corn disease in Christian, Stone, Lawrence and Barton counties.

Corn leafhoppers infect corn plants with pathogens that result in stunting. Symptoms of corn stunt are yellow or red leaf tips, small ear growth with loose or missing kernels and plant size reduction.  Stunted plants might only get 5-feet high.

MU Extension says corn leafhoppers move north by wind-aided movement from Mexico, where there’s continuous corn year-round. Adult corn leafhoppers can overwinter in grasses, but it’s been commonly thought leafhoppers can’t survive Missouri winters.