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Bunt, or stinking
smut |
Causal organism - Tilletia controversa
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Control
Because of the later infection of the host plant, unlike common bunt, seed
treatment is not very effective. The soil-borne phase of the disease also
means that surface-acting seed treatments are not effective.
Systemic seed treatments such as Baytan have been shown to
give some control but the very long period between sowing and infection (3-4
months) means that the level of control may be variable.
In the USA a wide range of genetic host resistance has been employed to confer
resistance
to dwarf bunt in many varieties. Many are still, however, susceptible
to one or more races of the fungus.
Spring-sown cereals are not affected, thus in some areas this is a possible
control strategy. However, areas where dwarf bunt is common do not lend themselves
to early sowing of spring cereals.
