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How can high temperatures damage corn cotton and bean plants?

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High temperatures can cause significant noninfectious damage to corn, cotton, and bean plants primarily by inducing scald on their leaves.1

Additionally, when high temperatures are accompanied by drought and dry winds, these plants may experience several physiological stress symptoms, including:

In the specific case of cotton, high temperatures can also contribute to the formation of cankers at the soil surface of tender plants. Furthermore, these environmental stressors can alter a plant's normal physiology, making them more susceptible to pathogens and secondary invaders.1