NC_temp1091: (new NCR-25)Diagnosis and management of corn diseases.
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NC_temp1091: (new NCR-25)Diagnosis and management of corn diseases.
Duration: 10/01/2004 to 09/30/2005
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Corn is one of the world's most important food crops, and the United States produces approximately 40% of the worldwide corn crop. Plant diseases cause significant losses in yield and quality each year. Best guess estimates for disease loss for corn in the Unites States range from 2 to 15% annually. The most devastating disease epidemic of corn to occur in the United States in recent times was the southern corn leaf blight epidemic in 1970. Approximately 20% of the crop was lost, with some regions experiencing losses of 100%. Research on diseases of corn, and preparation and distribution of educational materials on corn diseases for use by researchers, extension personnel, producers, and industry personnel, should be a high priority for the North Central Region. Gray leaf spot, anthracnose, Stenocarpella ear rot, and northern corn leaf blight continue to cause problems in many parts of the region.
Corn is an extremely important commodity within the United States and throughout the world. Research on diseases of corn will help ensure that the United States and the world will have sufficient supplies of high quality corn and corn-derived products for human consumption, animal feed, and other uses. Work by committee members in the past has allowed for timely recognition of new disease threats to these crops, has identified sources of resistance and susceptibility to these disease threats, and has provided timely information on corn diseases and their management. This information has had a direct impact on the profitability and efficiency of corn producers and the agribusiness industry serving them, as well as a strong effect on all of society.
Historically, NCR025 has dealt primarily with corn diseases, and to a limited extent with diseases of sorghum. This new proposal will focus the committee's efforts entirely on corn. The current NCR025 committee has a long history of identifying corn disease problems, coordinating and conducting related research, exchanging preliminary research data, and developing educational materials related to corn disease diagnosis and management. Current multi-state, collaborative research projects include: 1) use of fungicides to control gray leaf spot; 2) use of fungicides to control foliar diseases of dent corn inbred lines in seed production fields; 3) evaluation of newer fungicides to control Stenocarpella ear rot; 4) evaluation of effects of Bt on Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin production (in conjunction with private industry); and 5) evaluation of USDA corn germplasm collection fpr reaction to various pathogens (coordinated by the NC Regional Plant Introduction Station at Iowa State). Additional related projects include the identification of molecular markers associated with resistance to Aspergillus ear rot and aflatoxin production, and Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin production (Univerity of Illinois and Monsanto), studies on inoculation techniques for Stenocarpella ear rot (Univerity of Illinois and Monsanto), and aerobiology of Fusarium and related epidemiological studies (Cornell University).
A number of challenges lie ahead for corn pathologists and others interested in the diagnosis and management of corn diseases. Many areas of the midwest are seeing an increased interest in continuous corn as a means to increase corn acreage and production. This increased pressure on corn acreage is a direct result of the current economics of corn production compared to soybeans and other major crops, and the increased number of ethanol plants and interest in bio-based fuels. The long-term implications for corn disease management need to be examined.
As the potential threats from bioterrorism continue to be identified and researched, there is a need to ensure a proper balance is given to those threats identified with corn. This committee should be involved in the construction of restricted agent lists associated with corn, as well as recognized as a significant resource within the regional plant pest diagnostics network.
Objectives
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Serve as a forum to alert plant pathologists to new diseases, unusual outbreaks of disease, and potential disease problems of corn.
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Provide for interaction among corn pathologists and breeders from Agricultural Experiment Stations, US Department of Agriculture, and commercial seed and chemical companies.
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Provide a forum for joint planning of research important to the region, including cooperative research between Agricultural Experiment Stations and private industry.
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Form working groups for evaluation of corn germplasm for disease resistance.
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Coordinate production of new published materials, both print and electronic, to assist corn workers worldwide in the diagnosis and management of disease.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Facilitate group discussion between University researchers and extension specialists, USDA-ARS staff, and personnel from private industry on corn disease diagnosis and management, new disease problems, germplasm screening techniques, and other relevant topics.
- Improved characterization of corn germplasm, resulting in greatly increased value of theUSDA corn collection for breeders and researchers studying various corn diseases.
- Development of a committee Web site to serve as a clearinghouse for information on corn diseases and their diagnosis and management.
- Development of coordinated regional educational materials based on current research information.
- Identify priority research needs at the regional and national level and in conjunction with private industry.
- Continue periodically meeting with other NCR Committees and relevant groups (NCR167 and the Interregional Corn Improvement Conference).
- Development of an annual survey tool to identify important corn diseases and the relative economic impact of each, as well as new and emerging problems.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Many of the members of the current NCR025 committee have extension as well as research responsibilities. As such, information obtained through this committee and related research efforts, as well as from interactions with private industry, contributes to and is used directly in state extension programs by committee members and other University extension specialists. This will continue under the new proposed committee.
Recent examples of where pertinent and reliable information was shared between committee members include Aspergillus ear rot and aflatoxin production, Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin production, Stenocarpella ear rot, and northern corn leaf blight. In particular, the epidemics of Stenocarpella ear rot in 2000 and aflatoxin in 2002 represent situations where committee members responded in timely fashions with accurate information needed by producers to make sound management decisions.
Members of the new committee will work to develop a functional Web site to serve as a clearinghouse for information on corn diseases and their diagnosis and management. This will include links to publications, research summaries, germ plasm screening results, and state reports.
The new committee will also focus on development of coordinated educational publications. The 3rd Edition of the APS Compendium of Corn Diseases was published last year. Don White, University of Illinois, is coordinating a Pictorial Guide of Corn Diseases which will also be published by APS. Other publications will be considered by committee members.
Organization/Governance
Officers for this committee will include a Chair and a Secretary who will be elected annually from among the official University representatives to the committee to serve the following year. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES representative.
Literature Cited
(A list of relevant publications will be added.)