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K-State Today

April 17, 2014

Lecturer to present talk today about insights into Goss' wilt and leaf blight

Submitted by Stephanie Alvord-Albanese

Alison Roberston, Iowa State University, will present "Insights into Goss' wilt and bacterial blight of corn" at 3:45 p.m. April 17 in 4031 Throckmorton Hall.

The lecture abstract is:

Goss' wilt and leaf blight has re-emerged as an economically important disease of corn in the U.S. The disease is caused by the bacterium Clavibacter michiganesis subsp. nebraskensis, or Cmn. The primary source of inoculum for Goss' disease is Cmn-infested residue but seed transmission and epiphytic infections of the bacterium may also play a role. In my lab, we have been evaluating the contribution of these sources of inoculum to disease development. Field and greenhouse trials have demonstrated epiphytic populations of Cmn play a role in Goss' leaf blight disease development, and are influenced by agronomic factors. In collaboration with the ISU Seed Science Center, we have re-examined seed transmission of the pathogen in relation to Goss' leaf blight severity. Furthermore we have also been elucidating mechanisms of resistance in corn to Cmn in greenhouse trials and using microcopy. These data have contributed to our understanding of this pathosystem and consequently management of this disease.