West Central FS (309) 343-1600
(309) 343-1600
myFS Solution Center View My Account Agri-Finance Account
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
(309) 343-1600
myFS Solution Center View My Account Agri-Finance Account
Dynamic Weather Icon for Today's Forecast
Weather N/A
Futures
  • Who We Serve
    • Farmers
    • Homeowners
    • Fleet Owners
    • Turf & Landscape Managers
  • Products & Services
    • Agronomy
      • Crop Protection
      • Crop Nutrients
      • Seed
        • Yield Results
        • Seed Product Catalog
      • Agronomy Team
    • Fuels and Lubricants
      • Fuels
      • Lubricants
      • Other Petroleum Products
    • Propane
      • Residential Propane
      • Agricultural Propane
      • Commercial Propane
      • Autogas
      • Propane Tips
      • Energy Order Form
    • Energy Catalog
    • FS Agri-Finance
    • Technology
      • FS MiField
      • Precision Farming
        • Climate FieldView
        • Precision Planting Equipment
    • Grain Storage & Buildings
    • Turf
      • GreenYard Professional
      • GreenYard Consumer
    • FAST STOP
    • Western Grain Marketing - Cash Bids
    • Resource Center
    • DTN Weather
    • myFS Solution Center
  • Our Locations
    • Find Your Nearest Location
    • Adair
    • Bushnell
    • Carthage
    • Colusa
    • Colmar Seed Warehouse
    • Donnellson, IA
    • Ellisville
    • Galesburg Bulk Plant
    • Galesburg Main Office
    • Gilson Bulk Plant
    • Galesburg South - Seed and Technology Center
    • La Harpe
    • Little York
    • Macomb
    • Monmouth
    • Maquon
    • Ormonde
    • Roseville LP Service Center
    • Rozetta
    • Sciota
    • Stronghurst
    • Wataga
    • West Point
    • Williamsfield
    • Maintenance Shop
  • Sustainability
    • 4R Advocates
    • Pollinator Habitats
    • Enduring Farms
Futures
Dynamic Weather Icon for Today's Forecast
Weather N/A
Futures
Dynamic Weather Icon for Today's Forecast
Weather N/A
  • Who We Serve
    • Farmers
    • Homeowners
    • Fleet Owners
    • Turf & Landscape Managers
  • Products & Services
    • Agronomy
      • Crop Protection
      • Crop Nutrients
      • Seed
        • Yield Results
        • Seed Product Catalog
      • Agronomy Team
    • Fuels and Lubricants
      • Fuels
      • Lubricants
      • Other Petroleum Products
    • Propane
      • Residential Propane
      • Agricultural Propane
      • Commercial Propane
      • Autogas
      • Propane Tips
      • Energy Order Form
    • Energy Catalog
    • FS Agri-Finance
    • Technology
      • FS MiField
      • Precision Farming
        • Climate FieldView
        • Precision Planting Equipment
    • Grain Storage & Buildings
    • Turf
      • GreenYard Professional
      • GreenYard Consumer
    • FAST STOP
    • Western Grain Marketing - Cash Bids
    • Resource Center
    • DTN Weather
    • myFS Solution Center
  • Our Locations
    • Find Your Nearest Location
    • Adair
    • Bushnell
    • Carthage
    • Colusa
    • Colmar Seed Warehouse
    • Donnellson, IA
    • Ellisville
    • Galesburg Bulk Plant
    • Galesburg Main Office
    • Gilson Bulk Plant
    • Galesburg South - Seed and Technology Center
    • La Harpe
    • Little York
    • Macomb
    • Monmouth
    • Maquon
    • Ormonde
    • Roseville LP Service Center
    • Rozetta
    • Sciota
    • Stronghurst
    • Wataga
    • West Point
    • Williamsfield
    • Maintenance Shop
  • Sustainability
    • 4R Advocates
    • Pollinator Habitats
    • Enduring Farms
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
  • myFS Solution Center
  • View My Account
  • Agri-Finance Account

Manage Tar Spot in Corn

08/07/2019
corn diseases foliar disease tar spot symptoms management
E-mail Share Print
Manage Tar Spot in Corn
  • Tar spot was reported for the first time in the US in 2015 in IN then in IL and it has now been confirmed in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Florida.
  • Symptoms begin as oval to irregular bleached to brown lesions on leaves in which black spores are formed. Lesions may also be present on leaf sheaths and husks.
  • Tar spot incidence and severity increased significantly in the Midwest in 2018 with new counties and new states having their first confirmed reports.
  • Significant yield losses were observed in fields were tar spot developed early.
  • Researchers in the Midwest are currently working on getting more information on Tar spot epidemiology, predictive tools and management.
  • As of August 5th, 2019, Tar spot has been confirmed in a few counties of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa. However, the severity of this disease has been low.

Biology and Disease Cycle

Tar spot is caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis. This pathogenic fungus could be transported on fresh and dry corn leaves or husks. Spores released from these plants or their crop residues are also a source of inoculum.Ascospores of P. maydis are moved by wind or rain splash to corn. The disease is favored by cool temperatures (60-70F), high relative humidity (>75%) and long periods of leaf wetness (7h or more per night). Windborne spores are released in periods of high humidity. The ascomata of the fungus most likely overwinters on crop debris. Preliminary findings from University researchers (Wisconsin and Purdue) indicated that, regardless of fall tillage, 15-40% of Tar spot spores collected from infested residue survive the winter.

Symptoms

Tar spot symptoms include small, raised, black spots scattered across the leaf surface (Image 1 above) leaf sheaths and husks (Image 2 below). These black spots, called ascomata, are the fruiting structures of P. maydis. They protrude from the leaf surface giving it a rough or bumpy feel. They can be small flecks of about 1/64” up to about 5/64”. The lesions can merge together producing larger areas of blighted leaf tissue.

Symptoms of tar spot can be confused with symptoms of common and southern rust. Late in the growing season rust fungi switch from producing orange-red pustules to black teliospores. These black pustules can be easily mistaken for tar spot lesions. Additionally, we have seen pictures in fields, of what appears to be bird or insect feces on leaves, that resemble Tar spot symptoms (Image 3 below). One way to distinguish Tar Spot from these other spots is by scraping them away with your fingertips. Tar spot lesions will not be scraped off the leaf tissue while rust spores and poop will rub off.

Image 2. Tar spot lesions on husk (Source:GROWMARK, Inc.)

Tar Spot leasions on husk.jpg

Image 3. Tar spot imposter symptoms

Tar Spot imposter symptom-1.jpg

Management

Selection of least susceptible hybrids along with timely fungicide applications can help protect corn yields from Tar spot injury. Fungicide applications made during VT-R1 have proven effective to protect yields and may provide the highest return on investment. When making fungicide decisions, consider your risk factors. Late planting, continuous corn fields, especially where there was a history of Tar spot the previous year, may increase the risk of tar spot infection if the weather is favorable. However, the weather conditions in the last few weeks have not been conducive for Tar spot development. Keep in mind that corn is susceptible to yield losses or kernel abortion through R3 and so scouting for diseases should continue on through these early reproductive stages. If a fungicide application was made during V5-V7 growth stages but disease pressure is high and environment is favorable for disease development during the early reproductive stages, a second fungicide application may be needed.

As of early August 2019, a few fields in IN, IL, MI and IA have had positive confirmations of Tar spot this season. However, the severity levels of the disease has been low and the risk of Tar spot development has gone down significantly based on the current temperatures and humidity.   

Related Articles

Common and Southern Rust of Corn
Jul 21, 2020

Common rust has been reported across some areas of the Midwest during mid-late June. Fungicides are a great management tool and resistant hybrids are limited.

Read The Full Story
Gray Leaf Spot of Corn
Jun 30, 2020

Gray leaf spot (GLS) has the potential to limit corn yields if severity is high around the tasseling to silking stage. Warmer temperatures and rains we have experienced in the last few weeks could speed up infection and development.

Read The Full Story
Physoderma Brown Spot On Corn
Jul 24, 2019

Physoderma brown spot (Physoderma maydis) can survive in the soil and crop residue for up to 7 years. Severe outbreaks of Physoderma have been associated with stalk rot and breakage. Symptoms can be confused with eyespot, common or southern rust. Management includes the reduction of P. maydis inoculum through tillage and crop rotation.

Read The Full Story

Related Videos

Fall Corn Diseases
Sep 8, 2021

Tips from the field with Matt Aberle.

Watch Video
FS InVISION Product Spotlight - FS 5098 FS 5594
Nov 17, 2019

Exciting new FS InVISION corn products in the 100 and 105 day maturity range.

Watch Video
FS InVISION Product Spotlight - FS 5098 and FS 5594
Nov 5, 2019

Exciting new products int he 100 and 105 day maturity range from FS InVISION.

Watch Video
  • News
  • Careers
  • Our Locations
  • Resource Center
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • About Us
  • Site Page Map
  • Who We Serve
    • Farmers
    • Homeowners
    • Fleet Owners
    • Turf & Landscape Managers
  • Products & Services
    • Agronomy
      • Crop Protection
      • Crop Nutrients
      • Seed
        • Yield Results
        • Seed Product Catalog
      • Agronomy Team
    • Fuels and Lubricants
      • Fuels
      • Lubricants
      • Other Petroleum Products
    • Propane
      • Residential Propane
      • Agricultural Propane
      • Commercial Propane
      • Autogas
      • Propane Tips
      • Energy Order Form
    • Energy Catalog
    • FS Agri-Finance
    • Technology
      • FS MiField
      • Precision Farming
        • Climate FieldView
        • Precision Planting Equipment
    • Grain Storage & Buildings
    • Turf
      • GreenYard Professional
      • GreenYard Consumer
    • FAST STOP
    • Western Grain Marketing - Cash Bids
    • Resource Center
    • DTN Weather
    • myFS Solution Center

West Central FS

1445 Monmouth Blvd.

Galesburg, IL 61401

(309) 343-1600

[email protected]

© Copyright 2025 West Central FS, Inc.

Your choice regarding cookies on this site:

We use cookies to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience.
Privacy Policy

Your choice regarding cookies on this site:

We use cookies to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience.
Privacy Policy