Covered Smut - Barley
Ustilago hordei
Covered smut in barley can lead to high yield losses if not controlled by an appropriate seed treatment. Infection takes place from fungal spores present
on the outside of the seed. Contamination takes place at harvest through direct spore transfer from infected to healthy seed. Fungal spores germinate at the same time as the seed and can infect the seedling just before emergence, once plants have emerged they cannot be infected. The fungus grows unseen in the plant entering the head once formed at which point it replaces healthy seed with masses of fungal spores. Infected barley heads can be seen within the crop as greyish brown, stunted ears with shrivelled awns.
