Goss’s Wilt

Dr. Allison Robertson, Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State calls Goss’s wilt the “Disease of the year in 2011.”

Fall 2011 was the first time I had ever seen this disease in the field.

Known facts about Goss’s wilt:

1. 
    The disease is caused by bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskaensis.
2. 
   Foliar fungicides and seed treatments are not effective against Goss’s wilt.
3. 
   Disease exists in two phases, the first is leaf blight and second as a wilting stage.
4. 
   Some type of damage by wind, hail, or sand blasting to the plant must occur to allow the bacteria an entry site into the plant.
5. 
   Goss’s wilt overwinters in infected corn residue.
6. 
   Goss’s wilt will be found with a higher risk if weed host such as green foxtail or shattercane are present.

Suggestions for managing Goss’s wilt:

1. 
   Hybrid selection – choose a variety with as high a tolerance to Goss’s wilt as possible.
2. 
   Bury corn residue
3. 
   Plant a nonhost crop like soybeans.    

     Source:  Iowa State Extension                                       Source: Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln