Description: Diseased
heads have more open florets due to smutted kernels. Affected kernels or bunt
balls are dark colored and break open releasing a soft, black, pasty mass of
smut spores. Heads and diseased kernels have a distinctive fishy odor.
Location: Not common, but can occur anywhere in Ohio.
Time of attack: Bunt is seed-borne and effectively controlled with seed
treatments. Symptoms appear at heading and disease kernels can be detected in
June during grain fill.
Management:
· Seed treatment