Prevent Helminthosporium turcicum in your silage crop

Protect your Maize Silage

Helminthosporium turcicum is the most common strain of Helminthosporiosis in Europe. The disease thrives in hot and humid conditions, posing a threat to your silage maize yields. Fodder losses are significant, especially if the outbreak occurs during flowering and can reach 2 to 4t DM/ha in addition to impacting the starch rate (loss of 5 to 10 points).  

The disease also has consequences on the compaction of the silo and on its quality of conservation. In addition, cattle breeder often observe problems with the palatability of the silage or outright refusal at animal level. 

Identification and Impacts

Helminthosporium turcicum infections occur in the period after flowering when temperatures are between 18 and 25°C and there are humidity levels > 95% (morning dew, rain). The disease is spread by wind and rain and can be carried over in plant debris on the surface of your fields. 

Identification

  • Symptoms appear on the leaves after flowering (sometimes before flowering): gray-brown spots appear, lengthen and become confluent.  
  • Helminthosporium turcicum appears as spindle-shaped spots increasing in size as the infection progresses.  
  • At the end of the attack, the leaves dry out completely and will be covered with a black soot-like spores. 

Impacts

If the disease develops during flowering you will see rapid dry down of the infected foliage. 

  • Infected and sensible maize on the left and resistant maize on the right. 
  • Moderately tolerant varieties will show some infection but overall the yield impact will be lessened. 

Disease Management Best Practices 

  • Choose a variety tolerant to Helminthosporiosis turcicum 
  • Crush and quickly incorporate the crop residues after harvest to destroy the maximum of mycelium 
  • Limit monocultures – target a three-year crop rotation 
  • Scout your fields and consider a fungicide application around flowering if symptoms appear 

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