Karnal Bunt of Wheat

Triệu chứng

In the early stages, blackened areas develop at the base of a few grains per spike. Little by little, the grains are emptied of their content, and partially or wholly filled by a black powdery mass. The grain does not swell in the process and the glumes usually remain intact. As the disease progresses, more grains on other spikes are affected. When crushed, these grains emit a smell of rotting fish. However, the number of grains smutted is rarely exceeding 5 or 6 per spike. Infected plants may be dwarfed. The disease has only minimal effects on grain yield, but seeds may be refused because of quality problems or simply because of the presence of the spores.