Loose Smut
Ustilago tritici
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameLoose Smut
DescriptionLoose smut replaces healthy grain heads with a mass of dusty black spores. Identify these 'sooty' heads early to prevent the spread of this seed-borne fungus.
TypeFungus
FamilyUstilaginaceae
GenusUstilago
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumBasidiomycota
SubphylumUstilaginomycotina
ClassUstilaginomycetes
OrderUstilaginales
Features
- A common and destructive seed-borne disease of wheat, barley, and oats caused by various species of the fungus Ustilago
- Symptoms become visible only when the head emerges from the boot. Healthy grain is completely replaced by a black, dusty mass of spores
- The black spores are initially covered by a thin grey membrane that quickly ruptures, releasing the spores to be carried away by the wind
- By harvest time, the infected plant often consists only of a bare central stalk (rachis), as all the spores have blown away
- The fungus infects the developing embryo of healthy flowers during flowering. The fungus then lives invisibly inside the seed until it germinates
- Because the fungus is inside the seed, the disease cannot be seen or detected until the next year's crop produces grain heads
- Infected plants often appear slightly taller than healthy ones and emerge early, which helps the spores reach the flowers of surrounding plants
- Every infected head represents a total loss of grain for that specific plant. High infection rates can significantly impact overall crop yield
- Control primarily through seed treatment. Use certified smut-free seed or treat seeds with systemic fungicides like carboxin before planting
- Traditional control involved hot water treatment of seeds (54°C) to kill the internal fungus without damaging the seed embryo
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificUstilago tritici
English (Alternate)Black smut
Hindiकण्डुआ रोग (Kandua rog)
Tamilகரிப்பூட்டை நோய் (Karippoottai noy)
Teluguకాటుక తెగులు (Kaatuka tegulu)
Malayalamകരിമ്പൂപ്പൻ (Karimpūppan)
Kannadaಬತ್ತದ ಕಾಡಿಗೆ ರೋಗ (Battada kāḍige rōga)
Sanskritअनावृत-किट्ट (Anāvṛta-kiṭṭa)
Bengaliলুজ স্মাট রোগ (Loose smut rog)
Frenchcharbon nu
Russianпыльная головня (pyl'naya golovnya)
Spanishcarbón desnudo
GermanFlugbrand
