Bacterial Leaf Streak Disease of Corn (EC3034)

Bacterial Leaf Streak (BLS) of corn (Zea mays) was first reported in Nebraska in 2016 and was the first time the disease was confirmed in the United States. Since then it has been confirmed in nine additional states—Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. The results from a survey (funded by the Nebraska Corn Board) confirmed the bacterium in samples received from 74 Nebraska counties as of October 2018. The bacterium causing BLS is Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum. This disease has also been reported on corn in South Africa, Argentina, and Brazil. BLS has been confirmed in field corn, seed corn, sweet corn, and popcorn. Disease severity varies by hybrid and can be severe in some susceptible popcorn hybrids.