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Bunt, or stinking
smut |
Causal organism - Tilletia controversa
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This disease is not yet known in the UK but has become of interest in recent
years because of reports of long term survival of common bunt (T.
tritici) in soil. Dwarf bunt can survive for long periods in soil
so that early reports of long-term survival of T. tritici raised debate
about the possibility of hybrids
between T. controversa and T. tritici existing. Dwarf bunt occurs
in Canada , North and South America and many parts of Europe and Asia including
Austria, Bavaria, Bulgaria, Czech republic, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy,
Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, Sweden and Switzerland. In general
it can be found in most areas where winter wheat is subject to prolonged snow
cover through the winter. Unlike common bunt, dwarf bunt is capable of attacking
rye and winter barley as well as a range of grass species.
Microscopic examination of teliospore
morphology
is the primary means of distinguishing species of Tilletia. However,
because there is a wide range of teliospore characteristics in T. controversa
and other Tilletia species. Spore morphology alone is not a suitable
method to identify Tilletia species. This identification problem fuels
the debate about the possible existence of hybrids between T.controversa
and T. tritici.
The symptoms of dwarf bunt are very similar to common bunt except that affected
plants are stunted, to between half and quarter their normal height. Affected
ears tend to have a more ragged appearance than with common bunt. Yellowing
and flecking of leaves of affected plants is also occasionally found.
