Stewart's Wilt and Blight of Sweet Corn
June 1996

Stewart's wilt and seedling blight of sweet corn, is caused by the bacterium Erwinia stewartii. The disease commonly occurs from southern New England to the Middle Atlantic states and west to Kansas and the Dakotas. Scattered outbreaks occur outside this general area. Bacterial wilt is more prevalent in southern regions of the Corn Belt. It has not become established in areas with dry climates, nor in areas without Corn Flea Beetles (Chaetocnema pulicaria), the vector of the bacterium. It is much more severe on susceptible sweet corn and popcorn hybrids than on most field corn hybrids.

Symptoms
The bacterial wilt organism infects sweet corn plants at any stage of growth. Infected seedlings may die prematurely. The disease is usually most conspicuous and serious in young plants under two feet tall. In seedlings, the bacterium often spreads systemically throughout plants of susceptible hybrids.

On very susceptible hybrids a yellow, slimy ooze infrequently collects on the surface of the inner ear husks or covers the kernels. Other kernels may have grayish spots (lesions) with dark margins or they may be deformed and shrunken.

Losses of up to 90 percent can occur in Illinois on very susceptible hybrids following mild winters, especially in early plantings in the southern half of the state. Yield losses are influenced by the number of infective flea beetles in the field, the relative susceptibility of the hybrid to Stewart's wilt, and the growth stage of the plant at the time of infection. Susceptible hybrids infected at the 3 to 5 leaf stage will have greater yield reductions than will the same hybrids infected at later growth stages (Table 1).

Dent corn is generally much more resistant to this disease than is sweet corn. The characteristic symptoms on the leaves are long, irregular, pale green streaks that turn yellow and finally straw- colored. This phase, known as leaf blight, is often prevalent after tasseling.

Disease Cycle
The bacterium causing Stewart's disease overwinters almost exclusively in the digestive tracts of hibernating, adult corn flea beetles. In areas where wilt was severe the previous summer, approximately 20 percent of the surviving beetles in the spring are contaminated with the bacterium. These insects migrate and are carried by air currents 20 miles or more. Young corn plants become infected by the feeding of the flea beetle. Non-infested flea beetles feed on infected plants and then carry the wilt bacterium to healthy plants. As the summer progresses, new broods of flea beetles become infested, greatly increasing the number of contaminated insects. The flea beetles carry and transmit the bacterium as long as they live.

The number of flea beetles emerging in spring from hibernation depends on the severity of winter temperatures. Low temperatures are unfavorable for beetle survival. The numbers of emerging adults can be estimated by calculating a winter temperature index by averaging the mean temperatures (expressed in °F) for December, January, and February. Thus, the winter temperature index can be used for disease forecasting (Table 2).

Flea beetles seldom survive in the northern half of Illinois because of low winter temperatures. Those found in late spring or summer have migrated from the south. Snow or other winter cover apparently has little effect in providing sufficient shelter to enhance survival of the overwintering flea beetles. Prolonged periods of wet summer weather are unfavorable for beetle multiplication and feeding, while dry weather is favorable.

The causal bacteria may live for several months in seed, manure, soil, and old cornstalks; however, the number of plants that become infected from these sources is insignificant.

The toothed flea beetle, adult 12-spotted cucumber beetle, and larvae of corn rootworms, seed corn maggot, wheat wireworm, and white grubs also may carry the wilt bacteria from one plant to another during the summer.

Control

1. Grow well-adapted, wilt-resistant sweet corn varieties. Sweet corn hybrids with high levels of resistance to Stewart's wilt are presented in Table 3. At present, there are very few early maturing hybrids with high levels of resistance to Stewart's wilt. Consult current seed catalogs and trade publications for additional information on disease resistant hybrids.
2. Where corn flea beetles are an annual problem the application of an approved insecticide may help reduce the spread and overall severity of Stewart's wilt.
3. Delayed or later plantings may have less flea beetle activity than early-season plantings.
4. Plant disease-free seed. Reputable seed companies produce their seed corn where bacterial wilt is absent. Therefore, almost no infected seed corn enters the trade. Seed treatments are not an effective control measure.

Author:
Darin M. Eastburn