Seed Rots and Seedling Blight (fungi - several species): Soil and seed-borne fungi attack corn seed causing seed rots and seedling blight. These fungi are favored by cold (50 - 55o C) wet, poorly drained soils. Factors that affect disease severity include genetic resistance, seed quality, planting depth, and soil type. Symptoms include yellowing and wilt of leaves, seed rot, damping-off of seedlings, seedling wilt, and root rot. Controls include planting high quality damage-free seed, planting in warm, moist soil, correct placement of infurrow pesticides and fertilizer, and seed treatment fungicides (figure 1).
