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Bunt, or stinking
smut |
Causal organism - Cochliobolus sativus
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Foot rot due to C. sativus is traditionally a disease of hotter climates than that of the UK.
The fungus causes disease symptoms similar to Fusarium spp. Seed-borne infection can result in seedling death although infected plants usually grow to maturity. Affected plants show brown spotting on the lower leaves and, if severely affected, can show stem-base rotting and poorly filled ears. This severe symptom is very rare in the UK.
