Goss’s wilt affects corn in two phases: the wilting phase and the leaf blight phase. The disease phase being observed at this time is the wilting phase (Figure 1). The wilting phase occurs when the bacteria infects young corn plants causing entire corn plant to wilt. The leaf blight phase develops when corn leaves are infected later in the growing stage, leading to large grayish-tan water-soaked lesions on the leaves. The leaf blight phase is the most common.

Management: Plant corn hybrids with resistance to Goss’s wilt. Practice crop rotation. Rotation should be between broadleaf crops and small grains other than sorghum since sorghum is a host for Goss’s wilt For fields with a history of Goss’s wilt, tillage practices that bury the corn may speed up decomposition therefore reducing inoculum level.