-4- 



Illinois weather patterns vary considerably from area to area. This variation, 

 plus the use of different plant varieties in different areas, results in vari- 

 ation in disease development throughout the state. For example, Stewart's leaf 

 blight of corn is more severe in southern Illinois; northern corn leaf blight is 

 more damaging in the northern regions. 



Variations from characteristic conditions are often responsible for sporadic 

 outbreaks of diseases that normally do not occur. In short, the climate of a 

 region is a major factor in terms of what crops can be profitably grown; also, 

 on the prevalence of diseases to which those crops are susceptible. 



The following diseases may be moderate- to-severe in Illinois this year if cool, 

 wet conditions prevail during spring and early summer and if the other conditions 

 necessary for infection are present. 



1. All plants: crown and root rots; leaf spots and blights; seed rot; damping - 

 off of seedlings. 



2. Small grains: Septoria leaf blotch; rusts, scab, and barley yellow dwarf 

 virus. 



3. Corn: leaf blights, Physoderma brown spot. 



4. Soybeans: foliar diseases. 



5. Potatoes, tomatoes, vine crops: blights, leaf spots, anthracnoses , fruit 

 (tuber) rots, Sclerotinia white mold. 



6. Lawns: leaf spots, melting-out, slime molds. 



For more details, see Report on Plant Diseases No. 1003, "Weather and Plant Dis- 

 eases " available from 218 Mumford Hall, Department of Plant Pathology, Univer- 

 sity of Illinois, Urbana 61801. 



SPECIAL NOTE TO PESTICIDE DEALERS 



Pesticides bearing the skull and cross bones are very highly toxic and should be 

 handled with care. Caution all your customers to do this. Tell them never to 

 reuse an empty pesticide container. 



Between 1961 and 1971, there were only 25 accidental deaths from pesticides in 

 Illinois. Although this is a remarkable safety record, some of these deaths 

 could have been prevented. In several instances, highly poisonous pesticides 

 were placed in soft drink bottles. Small children later drank from them. Never 

 put a pesticide in anything but its original, well-marked container. Warn your 

 customers about this. 



Some aspects of United States Public Law 92-516 are now in effect, others are 

 not. The law makes it illegal to use a pesticide except as specifically la- 

 beled. This leads to some confusion related to tank mixes of two or more pes- 

 ticides , even though such mixes have been used for many years and have with- 

 stood the test of time. Within certain limitations, tank mixes were legal 

 under the previous law. 



