Home and Landscape

Sunburn on Corn

Sunburned plants have yellowed, scalded, or bleached leaf tissues. Leaves may roll and kernels may be shriveled or not completely developed.

Solutions

Sunburn is usually associated with hot weather and high winds 2 to 3 weeks before harvest; insufficient soil moisture, especially from silking to harvest, may also contribute. Water and fertilize as directed. Some varieties may be more tolerant than others.

Sunburned bleached corn leaf, Davis Community Garden. by JKC    Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Sunburned leaf. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Corn ear with shriveled, sunburned kernels, some terminal kernels eaten, possibly by birds, Davis Community Garden. by JKC   Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Shriveled kernels. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
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