Small Grains

Ergot (wheat)

Mary E. Burrows, Bill Grey, Alan Dyer, Jeff Stein, Ned Tisserat

 

Cause:  Claviceps purpurea. 

 

Occurrence: During flowering and grain filling. 

 

Key Symptoms: 

·         The most conspicuous evidence of ergot is the presence of slender black fungal sclerotia that replace individual seeds and protrude from the head.

·          Black sclerotia may be mixed in with seed after harvesting. 

·         Ergot might be confused with some of the bunt diseases, but ergot sclerotia are larger and much harder than bunt balls and are not filled with powdery spores. 

·         Yellow droplets  or honeydew may be present on the head during flowering

·         Some infections may result in partial sterility of the head

 

Pathogen: Fungal sclerotia survive in the soil or are sewn with seed during planting.  Infection of florets is favored by wet, cool weather during flowering.  

Management Approaches

Ergot is not common in wheat but may be a problem in triticale and rye.  Crop rotation and the use of seed free of sclerotia usually reduces ergot outbreaks.

 

Categories: Small grains, Diseases, Ergot

 

Date: 04/26/07