See:
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) - Common Bunt (Stinking Smut)
Fungicide Effectiveness as Seed Treatments for Cereal Diseases
Cause The fungus, Tilletia controversa, is carried on seed and can survive many years in soil. The disease is most common where winter wheat is subjected to prolonged snow cover. Rye also may be infected.
Symptoms Infected plants are dwarfed compared to healthy plants. Smut balls containing masses of dark smut spores replace kernels. If crushed, a smut ball emits a distinctive foul odor as in common bunt.
Cultural control
- Use pathogen-free seed.
- Plant spring wheat or resistant varieties of winter wheat. Names of resistant winter wheat varieties are listed in the current issue of the Certified Seed Buying Guide, published by the Washington State Crop Improvement Association, 414 S. 46th Ave., Yakima, WA 98908-3232; or via www.wscia.com.
Chemical control Treat seed.
- Dividend Extreme at 2 to 4 fl oz/100 lb of winter wheat or triticale seed. Do not graze green forage for 55 days after planting. See label for reentry restrictions.
- Dividend XL RTA at 2.5 fl oz/100 lb of winter wheat seed. Do not graze green forage until 55 days after planting. See label for reentry restrictions.