DISEASES OF CORN - CRAZY TOP

Crazy top is a disease that you may see only rarely. However, once you do, you are not likely to forget it. One student described the disease as “. . . corn with a bad hair day. . .”. This description is very apt. The disease is caused by a water mold called Schlerophthora macrospora, which causes the tassels of infected plants to overgrow and become leafy. Other symptoms caused by the water mold include excessive tillering, and rolling, twisting and chlorotic (yellow) striping of leaves. As for water molds in general, S. macrospora most readily infects when soils have been flooded. Thus the disease can be avoided if soils are properly drained or if one avoids planting in wet areas in a field.