The entire top of the damn plant turns bright red.
As sugars build up in the top of the plant with no place to be transported to, the upper leaves start to turn bright red and die back.
You may get a bar bell ear or there may be no ear on the plant. In of field of millions of plants a bright red top narrows the search down.
salvaria@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 week ago
TIL
Barbell ears — kernels missing in specific sections of ears. (a) Kernels missing on the base of the ear. (b) Kernels missing toward the middle. © Kernels missing toward the tip of the ear. (d) These symptoms are accompanied by significant cob diameter decreases.