Plant pathologists collaborate to share knowledge on a growing threat to
corn production

Date:
January 27, 2022
Source:
American Phytopathological Society
Summary:
A growing threat to corn around the world, tar spot has had a
significant impact on United States corn production. To combat
this growing threat, plant pathologists have compiled a recovery
plan that reviews the current knowledge and the future needs of
tar spot, with the intention of mitigating the disease's impact.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A growing threat to corn around the world, tar spot has had a significant impact on United States corn production. From 2018 to 2020, the disease resulted in a loss of 242.6 million bushels and this number is expected
to grow after the 2021 season.


==========================================================================
Tar spot of corn was first spotted in Mexico in 1904. It spread to
15 additional countries throughout Central and South America and
the Caribbean and made it to the United States in 2015 and Canada in
2020. When environmental conditions are ideal for infection, tar spot
can result in yield losses of up to 100 percent.

To combat this growing threat, a group of 22 plant pathologists from
12 institutions have compiled a recovery plan that reviews the current knowledge and the future needs of tar spot, with the intention of
mitigating the disease's impact. They used new technology to monitor
tar spot onset and progress in real time and also worked closely with
plant pathologists across North America to compare note.

"This disease outbreak highlights the importance of state-based land
grant University Extension plant pathologists who worked together
to enable communication across state lines in tracking this recently
introduced disease," said Dr. Darcy Telenko, the corresponding author
on the story. By working together, they were able to quickly disseminate
the best management practices found in evidence-based research.

"The ongoing research has real-world impact on U.S. agricultural as
this disease is leading to significant yield loss in the Midwest and it continues to spread to new corn production areas in the U.S. and Canada," Telenko added.

This recovery plan demonstrates the importance of continued collaboration between university Extension, plant disease diagnostic labs, the USDA,
and industry to monitor and identify new and emerging plant pathogens
that could impact US agriculture.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
American_Phytopathological_Society. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Camila Rocco da Silva, Jill Check, Joshua S. MacCready, Amos
E. Alakonya,
Robert Beiriger, Kaitlyn M. Bissonnette, Alyssa Collins, C. D. Cruz,
Paul D. Esker, Stephen B. Goodwin, Dean Malvick, Daren S. Mueller,
Pierce Paul, Richard Raid, Alison E. Robertson, Emily Roggenkamp,
Tiffanna J.

Ross, Raksha Singh, Damon L. Smith, Albert U. Tenuta, Martin
I. Chilvers, Darcy E. P. Telenko. Recovery Plan for Tar Spot of
Corn, Caused by Phyllachora maydis. Plant Health Progress, 2021;
22 (4): 596 DOI: 10.1094/PHP-04-21-0074-RP ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220127114354.htm

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