What's this corn issue?

[Agrantina]

Next to one of our plots the farmer has a stand of corn-- It looks good as we have had good rain, but some of it has some type of head on them? Like a deformed corn husk? Anyone know what it is??

 

[Deerherd]

Crazy top corn is caused by very wet conditions when the corn germinates until it is about 6 to 12 inches high. It's caused by the fungus Scleroph thora macrospora (Sclerospora macrospora), but generally only happens in low areas and doesn't usually effect the whole field.

The Sclerophthora fungus overseasons in diseased corn or grass residue
as microscopic roundish oospores that are thick-walled and colorless to
yellowish. The numerous oospores presumably germinate in soil that is
saturated for 24 to 48 hours, forming a thin-walled tube that bears a
lemon-shaped sporangium. The sporangium, in turn, germinates to
produce numerous motile zoospores. After swimming about in the soil
water for a short time, the zoospores encyst and produce a germ tube that
penetrates seedling host tissue sometime during the period from shortly
after sowing to before the plants are in the 4- to 5-leaf stage. Following
infection, the fungus develops systemically and invades the entire corn
plants, being most abundant in meristematic tissues.

Infection occurs over a wide range of soil temperatures. The optimum for
sporangial germination is 53° to 63°F (12° to 16°C). Seed transmission
of the Sclerophthora fungus has been demonstrated but is generally
considered unimportant in the dissemination of the fungus.

 

[Agrantina]

Wow- thanks- that is what it is!!!

AndyG