Goss bacterial wilt & leaf blight
Area of impact: Leaves
Description: Gray, yellow or red stripes with wavy margins that follow leaf veins. Lesions may contain dark, watery spots. If the stalk is cut in half, orange bundles may be visible.
Pathogen involved: Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis (a bacterium)
Timing/Conditions: Symptoms are most visible near corn silking. It prefers warm and humid weather. Damage to corn from weather or machinery increases the chance of infection.
Contributing factors: Overwinters in infested corn debris near soil surface
Management practices: Use resistant hybrids, crop rotation and tillage after harvest.