Loose Smut - Barley

Ustilago tritici

Loose smut of barley is a devastating disease of barley if not controlled by an appropriate seed treatment. Once infected seed is planted the disease infects the young plant and then grows within the plant unseen until it is time for seed to be produced. Loose smut then replaces healthy developing grain with masses of fungal spores. Infected plants tend to grow taller and mature earlier than healthy plants which allows the fungal spores to fall down onto the open florets of healthy plants. These spores then infect the developing grain and both the fungus and the grain stay alive until they are planted the next season.

Related Pests

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.

Net Blotch

Pyreophora teres

Net blotch (Pyreophora teres) is a common disease of autumn sown barley (much less commonly spring sown barley) which can result in significant yield loss if not controlled. Charateristics net type lesions give the disease its common name but lesions can also take the form of dark stripes and streaks and when infection is severe in large dead areas of leaf. Infection sources are either seed or crop debris, which is borne out by second year barley crops being likely to carry infection. Net blotch development is favoured by cool, moist conditions.

Fusarium Ear Blight

Gibberella avenacea

Fusarium Ear Blight is one of the four main ear diseases to look for. Part of the ear die and turn white or there is a general black discolouration of the ear.