Loose smut
Area of impact: Head
Description: Symptoms appear between heading and maturity. Blackened diseased heads emerge before healthy green ones. A dry black spore mass is contained within a thin membrane.
Pathogen involved: Ustilago tritici (a fungus)
Timing/Conditions: Occurs only during flowering and prefers wet cool weather.
Contributing factors: This fungus is strictly seedborne. Spore formation is timed so they can be blown into the flowers of host plants.
Management practices: Plant disease-free seed and treat with systemic fungicides.
