Corn stunt disease and its associated vector, the corn leafhopper, have been recently confirmed in five counties in Kansas. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of the disease in Kansas. In this article, learn more about how this disease spreads, what to look for in the field, and how to submit a tissue sample for testing.
Corn stunt spiroplasma has been confirmed in 26 counties in Kansas. Recent scouting efforts across Kansas have confirmed active leaf hoppers in many additional counties. High levels of disease were found in late-planted corn, leading to potential yield reduction. In this article, learn more about this new disease, its spread, and the best method for submitting samples for lab testing.