Root Health and Maximizing Sweet Corn Yield

Objectives:

  • Examine pathogenic and beneficial microbial populations, as well as insect injury, associated with roots in historically lower-yielding sweet corn fields and compare to "new" corn plantings in close vicinity.
  • Examine abiotic factors in addition to pathogenic and beneficial microbial populations, as well as insect injury, associated with roots in sweet corn plantings exhibiting leaf-firing and those that have no evidence of leaf-firing, especially "new" corn plantings.
  • In greenhouse studies, examine soil from fields exhibiting leaf-firing and those that have no evidence of leaf-firing for soil microbial factors coupled with water stress to observe effects on root health and leaf-firing. 

Technical Assistance:

  • Beth Dankert, Botany and Plant Pathology, OSU

Cooperators:

  • Dan McGrath, Ext. Agent, OSU Ext. Service-Marion County
  • N. S. (Bill) Mansour, Extension Specialist and Professor, Horticulture, OSU
  • Mary L. Powelson, Professor, Botany and Plant Pathology, OSU

 

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