Corn stunt is caused by the spiroplasma Spiroplasma kunkelii and is transmitted by leafhoppers (for more information, see corn stunt leafhoppers).

Nature of damage

• Infected plants are stunted due to shortening of internodes and numerous, barren ear shoots develop.
• Plants can be completely barren or suffer from poor seed set and reduced ear size.
• Under severe infection, plants can die prematurely.

Signs

• Infected plants show a range of symptoms depending on maize genotype.
• Typically the first symptoms include chlorosis of leaf margins, followed by reddening or purpling of older leaves.

Factors favoring development

• Continuous maize cultivation
• Disease is prevalent where leafhoppers are able to overwinter in mild climatic conditions.

Geographic distribution

• Corn stunt is common throughout the hot and humid lowlands of Central and South America, the Caribbean and the southern United States.
• The disease has also been recorded from elevations more than 2000 m above sea level.

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