Southern Rust Found In Jefferson County Corn
Growers Should Scout For Symptoms
LONOKE, ARK.
Southern rust has been confirmed in four
Jefferson County cornfields and University
of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
experts are advising corn growers to scout for
signs of the fungus in their fields.
Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist with
the University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture said Wednesday that the disease appeared
in Arkansas about a month after being
spotted in Louisiana. Conditions that favor disease
consist of high temperatures – 80 to 90 degrees
F, high relative humidity, and frequent
rainfall.
The fungus that causes southern rust, Puccinia
polysora, creates round or oval pustules
that are orange or light cinnamon-colored. In
Jefferson County, symptoms appeared in “one
of every 20 plants in the fields,” Faske said.
Jason Kelley, extension agronomist for the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture,
said southern rust shows up every
year.
“Right now, the concern is whether or not the
corn is far enough along not to be damaged by
southern rust,” he said. “Producers should be
scouting to see if any southern rust is present
before deciding whether to spray a fungicide or
not.”
Because southern rust can be confused with
other diseases, growers unsure of the symptoms
should bring samples to their county extension
office for testing.
Read more of Faske’s article about southern
rust at Arkansascrops.com or contact your
county extension office. Δ