Tar spot is a fungal disease that produces small, raised, black tar-like spots on corn leaves. First detected in the U.S. in Indiana in 2015, it has spread rapidly through the Corn Belt. Severe infections cause yield losses of 30-50%. Manage with resistant hybrids, fungicide applications at tassel/silk, and residue management.
Variety review pages cover tar-spot-resistant hybrids.
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