Knox County is currently participating in an agricultural research project being conducted across the state of Ohio to help develop a plan to prevent corn crop infections by fungal plants.
According to Ohio State University (OSU), 40 of these research stations have been installed on farms across West-Central Ohio.
Fusarium molds can enter corn plants through silks or wounds, and cool, damp conditions during the silking state can cause the mold to produce spores that can go on to infect more plants, according to OSU.
Such infections by F. graminearum can cause corn crops to develop Gibberella ear and stalk rots and corn crops showing signs of these infections may need to be tested for contamination.
The research stations will monitor weather conditions to help develop a plan to protect corn crops from infection by Fusarium molds.
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