The effect of water deficiency in corn plants on the development of three corn diseases

The relationships between the development of disease symptoms ofPuccinia sorghi, Exserohilum turcicum andHelminthosporium maydis on susceptible sweet corn plants, and the water status of the plants, were studied. At a relative water content (RWC) of 75% the development of sori ofP. sorghi, and the leaf area infected byE. turcicum andH. maydis, were inhibited by 38, 75 and 84%, respectively, as compared with the control plants (RWC = 100%).P. sorghi andH. maydis were not inhibited by a slight decrease in the RWC (96%), but development of leaf area infected byE. turcicum was inhibited by 33%.P. sorghi seemed to be better adapted to relatively high water deficiency in the host plants thanH. maydis orE. turcicum.