Iowa 2008 Prediction for Stewart’s Disease of Corn

Following an Iowa winter of ice, snow and cold temperatures, the predicted risk for Stewart’s disease of corn in 2008 is negligible throughout most of Iowa, with only the southeastern-most counties having a low risk. Stewart’s disease (also known as Stewart’s wilt), is caused by the bacterium Pantoea stewartii. In addition to the pathogen, an insect vector, the corn flea beetle, plays a critical role in the spread of this microorganism from plant-to-plant