Several root-invading plant pathogens have been found in symptomatic sweet corn roots, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, and Pythium species, but their involvement in the symptoms observed in the field was still unclear (Powelson et al., unpub.) in the spring of 2000.
Objectives:
- Conclude greenhouse pathogenicity studies.
- Examine early, mid, and late-season Fusarium populations associated with symptomatic roots in historically lower-yielding sweet corn fields and compare to "new" corn plantings in close vicinity. Also compare plants in Myers' sweet corn varietal trial.
- Characterize Fusarium root and stalk rot of plants exhibiting leaf-firing.
- Examine commercial biocontrol formulations for suppression of Fusarium root rot in field studies.
- Evaluate beneficial/antagonistic microorganisms from a private collection in greenhouse studies.
Cooperators:
- John Luna, Sen. Res., Horticulture
- Dan McGrath, Ext. Agent, OSU Ext. Service-Marion County
- Jim Myers, Professor, Horticulture
- Mary Powelson, Professor, Botany and Plant Pathology