Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Control
Seed treatment is not effective. Some
hybrid varieties are rather resistant. Most reliance
in home gardens should be placed on cleanliness,
cutting off and burning all smutted parts before
the boils break open to release spores.
Ustilago mulfordiana
Fescue Smut
on fescue
grasses.
Ustilago tritici
Nuda Loose Smut
. Normal
heads replaced by black powdery masses.
Ustilago striiformis
Stripe Smut
, general on
grasses - wheatgrasses, redtop, bentgrasses,
fescues, ryegrass, and bluegrass; does not occur
on cereals. Long dark narrow striations develop
in leaves; as the sori mature, spores are freed,
and the blade splits into ribbons. Plants are
systemically infected, make poor growth, and
inflorescences are stunted or absent. Perennial
mycelium may overwinter in the plant.
Ustilago violacea
Anther Smut
of carnation,
dianthus, lychnis, and silene. Infected plants
grow slowly, produce many weak axillary shoots;
stem internodes are shortened; flower buds are
short and squatty; calyxes tend to split; flowers
are sprinkled with black sooty dust from the
anthers, whose pollen grains are replaced by
smut spores. The fungus enters through flowers
or injured surfaces and grows systemically.
Spores are spread on cuttings. Control by roguing
diseased plants before flowering. Do not take
cuttings from plants with grassy or bushy habit.
