Syngenta Thrive

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Grab your magnifying glass — it’s time to test those ID skills! Use this guide to determine which corn disease threat you’re looking at and how to treat it.

ANTHRACNOSE

Caused by: Colletotrichum truncatum

Thrives in: High temps, wet weather

Infects at: Seedling phase or full maturity

Looks like: Long, tan to reddish-brown oval lesions, with possible raised dark spots; affects lower leaves, travels upward

Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced stalk strength and yield potential

Pro tip: Reach for a long-lasting fungicide when you ID Anthracnose! In Kentucky trials, Trivapro® fungicide provided up to 42 days of residual control and added 60 bu/A over untreated1.          

COMMON RUST

Caused by: Puccinia sorghi

Thrives in: Moderate temps, high humidity, heavy dew, 6+ hours of leaf wetness

Infects in: June, July

Looks like: Southern rust, but smaller, lighter pustules; more densely packed on the leaf surface

Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced yield

Pro tip: Scout often and early! A preventive application of Trivapro fungicide can help protect leaf tissue and reduce yield loss.

DIPLODIA EAR ROT

Caused by: Stenocarpella maydis, Stenocarpella macropora

Thrives in: Moderate temps, wet conditions; most severe in no-till or reduce-till in corn fields followed by corn

Infects: At and up to 3 weeks post-R1 or silk

Looks like: White mold, which later turns gray-brown

Results in: Reduced grain quality, reduced yield

Pro tip: Apply Miravis® Neo fungicide at R1 to help suppress Diplodia ear rot and support healthy ear development, especially in high-residue, corn-on-corn fields.

FUSARIUM EAR ROT

Caused by: Fusarium verticilliodes

Thrives in: Warm, wet weather before harvest

Infects: Infects at silking, often after insect or hail damage; symptoms appear at R5–R6

Looks like: Scattered clusters of white to lavender kernels with brown streaks throughout the length of the ear

Results in: Increased mycotoxins, reduced grain quality, reduced yield

Pro tip: When late season-ear damage opens the door to Fusarium ear rot, turn to a R1 application of Miravis Neo fungicide, one of the few fungicides labeled for suppression.

GIBBERELLA EAR ROT

Caused by: Gibberella zeae, the teleomorph stage of Fusarium graminearum

Thrives in: Cooler conditions during silking; overwinters in soil (> 68° F for spore maturation)

Infects at: Silk

Looks like: White to pink mold at ear tip; moves towards base

Results in: Increased vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol, or DON), and other toxins, reduced grain quality, reduced yield

Pro tip: Wet weather at silking? Apply Miravis Neo fungicide at green silk to R1 to help protect corn ears and support clean, high-quality grain.

GRAY LEAF SPOT

Caused by: Cercospora zeae-maydis

Thrives in: Warm, humid weather

Infects in: June, typically in corn on corn fields

Looks like: Long, narrow, rectangular light tan lesions delimited at leaf veins

Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced yield

Pro tip:  Gray leaf spot reduces the photosynthetic leaf area needed for grain fill and can weaken plants prematurely. Apply Miravis Neo fungicide and remove crop residue to prevent overwintering.

NORTHERN CORN LEAF BLIGHT (NCLB)

Caused by: Exserohilum turcicum

Thrives in: Moderate to warm temps, moist conditions, extended leaf wetness

Infects: Pre-VT through senescence; rain and wind help spores spread

Looks like: Long, gray-green to tan cigar-shaped lesions form on lower leaves; travel upward through season

Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced yield

Pro tip: Northern corn leaf blight can hit hard, taking out leaf area needed for grain fill. Keep plants performing with a timely tassel application of Miravis Neo fungicide.

SOUTHERN RUST

Caused by: Puccinia polysora

Thrives in: High humidity, high temperatures

Infects in: June or July

Looks like: Light orange to red-colored oval pustules, densely scattered on leaf surface

Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced yield

Pro tip: Southern rust thrives in hot, humid conditions and can quickly take over the upper canopy. Protect leaf tissue during kernel fill with long-lasting residual control from Trivapro® fungicide.

TAR SPOT

Caused by: Phyllachora maydis

Thrives in: Cool, humid conditions, prolonged leaf wetness

Infects in: Late summer; can overwinter in residue

Looks like: Small, raised, circular black spots that don’t rub off; affects lower leaves first. Older leaves and stressed plants tend to be more susceptible than newer leaves and younger plants.

Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, stalks and husks, lodging, reduced yield

Pro tip: Late-season tar spot can strip leaf tissue and wear down stalks fast. Apply Miravis Neo or Trivapro at VT/R1 for strong disease control. In trials2, Miravis Neo helped deliver 245.7 bu/A compared to 216.2 bu/A untreated.

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Know what you’re looking for when scouting soybean fields! This ID guide helps you identify the most common soybean disease threats — and gives tips on how to treat them.

BROWN SPOT
Caused by: Septoria glycines
Thrives in: Warm, humid conditions
Infects: As early as first true leaves
Looks like: Light to dark brown lesions on lower leaves with possible yellowing; more irregular as they expand
Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, defoliation, reduced yield
Pro tip: An in-season application of Miravis® Neo fungicide helps protect the lower canopy from early defoliation and keeps plants greener longer.

CERCOSPORA LEAF BLIGHT
Caused by: Cercospora kukuchii
Thrives in: Warm, moist conditions, mostly in Southern geographies
Infects at: Seed set
Looks like: Light purple pinpoint spots on upper leaf surface that expand to irregular patches; leaves become leathery and purple
Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced seed quality (purple stain), reduced yield
Pro tip: Combine crop rotation, tillage, and Miravis Neo fungicide to help protect plant health and support a stronger finish at harvest.

FROGEYE LEAF SPOT
Caused by: Cercospora sojina
Thrives in: Warm, humid environments
Infects: Severity increases as plants mature at R3-R5
Looks like: Small, dark, water-soaked circular lesions with gray-brown border on young leaves
Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced yield
Pro tip: By the time you see frogeye leaf spot, it’s already spreading. Apply Miravis Top or Miravis Neo fungicide at R3 to protect green tissue during pod fill.

POWDERY MILDEW
Caused by: Microsphaera diffusa
Thrives in: 60–70°F, damp conditions
Infects in: May to July
Looks like: Raised, fluffy or powdery white spots on lower leaves
Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced yield
Pro tip: A timely application of Miravis Neo fungicide helps stop powdery mildew from creeping up the canopy and cutting into pod fill.

RED CROWN ROT
Caused by: Calonectria ilicicola
Thrives in: 77–86°F, wet conditions
Infects: At planting/early-season (soilborne)
Looks like: Brick red mushroom-like structures at base of plant; yellow speckled spots on leaves (similar to SDS)
Results in: Poor stands; root damage; reduced water and nutrient uptake, leaf tissue damage, reduced yield
Pro tip: Red crown rot is an emerging threat that’s still on the move! Start strong with Saltro® seed treatment* to protect your soybean roots early and suppress infection before it threatens yield potential.

SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME (SDS)
Caused by: Fusarium virguliforme, often in fields with active soybean cyst nematode
Thrives in: Cool, wet conditions
Infects: At planting/early-season (soilborne); visible symptoms appear in August
Looks like: Yellow-brown flecks on leaves (similar to brown stem rot); blue mold present on taproot
Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, reduced water and nutrient uptake, reduced yield
Pro tip: Protect roots early with Saltro seed treatment, which delivered an average yield boost of 3.1 bu/A1 over ILEVO® in trials under SDS pressure.

TARGET SPOT
Caused by: Corynespora cassiicola
Thrives in: Warm, wet conditions
Infects at: Canopy to R6, beginning with the lower leaves
Looks like: Round to irregular dark brown spots on lower leaves with yellow halos that resemble targets
Results in: Damage to leaf tissue, heavy defoliation, reduced yield
Pro tip: Target spot thrives when humidity runs high and the canopy becomes dense. Apply Miravis Top fungicide at R3 to stay ahead of leaf damage and hold onto yield.

WHITE MOLD
Caused by: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Thrives in: Cool temps, wet soil, high humidity
Infects: At flowering; can survive in soil for 6–10 years
Looks like: Fluffy white substance; trumpet-shaped, mushroom-like structures in soil at plant base
Results in: Damage to plant tissue, reduced yield potential
Pro tip: When flowering starts under cool, wet conditions, white mold risk goes up fast. Apply Miravis Neo fungicide at R1-R2 to protect your canopy and help suppress white mold before it sets in.

PHYTOPHTHORA ROOT ROT
Caused by: Phytophthora sojae
Thrives in: Warm, wet conditions and poorly drained soils
Infects: At planting and early-season
Looks like: Brown stem lesions near the soil line; plants wilt and collapse
Results in: Root damage, stand loss, reduced water uptake, yield decline
Pro tip: Prevent early stand loss due to Phytophthora, protect roots and boost emergence with CruiserMaxx® APX seed treatment, containing two strong modes of action against Phytophthora, delivering a 2 to 5 bu/A advantage over untreated seed in Ohio State trials2.

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Let’s talk markets…

  • Bloomberg Grains Subindex
    • ⬇️Down 17% in 2024 (lowest since 2020)
  • Falling commodity futures
    • 🌽 Corn (ZCK25) down ~40% from 2022 and ~46% from period high (4/25/22)
    • 🌱 Soybeans (ZSK25) down ~40% from 2022 and 44% from period high (6/6/22)
  • 📖Historically, the best move is to invest consistently for better ROI:
    • Since 1957, the S&P 500 index has maintained an average annual return of over 10% despite many financial and global crises during that period.

Protecting your bottom line

  • Investing in high-performing crop protection products with proven yield bumps gives you the best shot at improving your outcomes:
    • From 2014 – 2019, an average increase in corn productivity of only made the difference between making a profit or not.*

Let’s do the math…

  • Trivapro®
    corn fungicide can deliver +14 bu/A1 on average over untreated fields.

    • At a commodity price of $4.52/bu, that means +$6,328 of extra potential revenue per 100 acres applied!
  • Tendovo®
    soybean herbicide can provide +4-5 bu/A2 over competitive products.

    • At a commodity price of $10.12/bu, that means +$5,060 of extra potential revenue per 100 acres applied!

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For the full pest preparation blueprint, check out the Crop Protection Program Inspection.

FOR GRADE A YIELD POTENTIAL, BUILD A ROBUST, SEASON-LONG PROGRAM

It Starts With a Solid Foundation

A safe home needs to have good bones. Protecting seedlings from the start can help boost yield potential:

  • Choose a soybean seed treatment that helps plants emerge healthier, with proven protection acting as insurance for your seed investment. Using CruiserMaxx® APX alongside Saltro® protects your soybeans at their most vulnerable stage from SDS, SCN, Pythium, Phytophthora and more, while also delivering stronger plant stands, larger root mass and faster speed-to-canopy – which adds up to higher potential yields.
  • Make a preemergence herbicide application containing multiple modes of action and strong residuals, like Storen® for corn or Tendovo® for soybeans. Using these herbicides prevents weed from robbing key nutrients from your crop.
  • Use a corn herbicide like Storen or Acuron® in a two-pass program to provide season-long weed control of 70+ grass and broadleaf weeds that helps fully protect your yield potential.

But It Doesn’t Stop There

A house can still fall without proper upkeep and maintenance. Avoid long-term issues by managing weeds through crop canopy:

  • Control the seed, not the weed. Weed seeds can open the door to thousands more next season and create the potential for increased resistance.
  • Dual Magnum® postemergence residual herbicide, when used following Tendovo, helps soybean fields stay clean throughout the season, preventing late-season weed competition.
  • Consider a tank mix of powerful wheat herbicides. Talinor® herbicide can be tank mixed with Axial® Star or Axial Bold herbicides to customize management of tough grass and broadleaf weeds, such as Italian ryegrass, wild oat, kochia and Russian thistle.

A Healthy Home is a Happy Home

There’s surviving, and then there’s thriving! Reducing crop stress is key to boosting bushels:

  • Be proactive with fungicide By the time you spot the disease, it’s often too late to control it.
  • Preventive fungicide applications not only protect your crop from yield-robbing diseases but can help boost overall crop health. The Syngenta portfolio of fungicides, – including Miravis® Ace for wheat, Miravis Top for soybeans, Miravis Neo for corn or soybeans and Trivapro® for corn – provide those plant-health benefits while controlling disease for maximum potential yield.

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Call the exterminator! Proactive insect pest management can save you from a tough time:

  • Scout frequently and consider tank mixing an insecticide with your fungicide to protect yields. Multiple insect pests, each below threshold levels, can reduce yield, so don’t wait for individual insect populations to boom. Instead, be proactive and spray Endigo® ZCX insecticide when soybean fungicide goes down.
  • Consider tank mixing an insecticide with your corn starter fertilizer at-planting to minimize pest damage and preserve plant health.

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Homes must be built on a strong foundation and kept clean and pest-free to ensure its occupants can thrive — and so should your crops! It’s time to inspect your crop protection program and fill in the gaps before problems arise.

Weeds

Corn & Soybeans

Wheat

  • Kochia
    • Drought tolerant, so it is competitive in tough environments
  • Wild oat
    • Seeds can mix with wheat grains at harvest, resulting in price penalties

Diseases

Corn

Soybeans

  • Phytophthora
  • Pythium
    • Can infect soybeans within 90 minutes of planting
  • Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS)
    • Can result in flower and/or pod abortion, reducing yield potential
  • Frogeye leaf spot
    • Can cause up to 35% yield loss

Wheat

  • Stripe rust
    • Produces spores which embed in plant leaves, inhibiting photosynthesis
  • Fusarium head blight
    • One of the most economically devastating wheat diseases

Insect Pests

Corn

Soybeans

Wheat

  • Wireworms
    • If wireworms are not addressed, up to 100% yield loss has been observed in the Pacific Northwest, and inconsistent stands can have consequences, such as replanting or weeds filling in bare spots

CROP PROTECTION PLANNING PUNCH LIST

Think like an inspector — based on your field’s history, what problems can you expect?

Weeds

  • What are my most problematic weeds?
  • Did I have any weed escapes or practices that could have spread seed?
  • Does my herbicide program provide overlapping residual through crop canopy closure?

Diseases

  • What diseases were most prevalent last year?
  • Am I being proactive in disease management?
  • Besides disease mitigation, how else can fungicides benefit my crops?

Insects

  • Which insect species were present in my field or neighboring soybean fields last year?
  • Have I considered in the impact that low levels of multiple insect species may have on yields?

Now that you have your list, it’s time to identify what you can do to prevent them from compounding into bigger issues. Click here for Crop Protection Solutions.

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One of the main takeaways from scouting is Mother Nature finds a way. Pests change when selection pressure changes, and scouts must adjust to stay a step ahead.

The history of cotton scouting gives us insight into how the practice evolved in other crops. Mid 1920s: North Carolina cotton reached almost 2 million acres. Late 1960s: Acreage dropped to about 50,000 acres when J.R. Bradley, Ph.D., arrived in the state.

When growers had to spray for boll weevil, they sprayed so often that the treatments killed off most other insects, including those beneficial in the field.

The National Cotton Council called for volunteers to campaign for a boll weevil eradication program in their communities. Marshall Grant, a farmer, was key in getting that legislation passed in North Carolina.

Once the Boll Weevil Eradication Program was successfully executed, growers could reduce their frequency of spray treatments.

European corn borer and tobacco budworm replaced boll weevil as the major pests.

Spray treatment thresholds were very important for worm eggs in cotton. When thresholds were reached, it was time to treat.

Bt cotton, which is toxic to the larvae of bollworms and tobacco budworms, was released  in the 1990s. Bt cotton technology was so effective at managing worms that insecticide applications declined and new stink bugs and plant bugs became foremost cotton pests.

Cotton scouts still look for plant bugs, stink bugs and the damage they cause. There is no substitute for boots on the ground, but new technologies like satellite, airplane and drone imagery arm scouts with better knowledge.