Common Bunt infection in Winter Wheat

By John Thomas, Nebraska Extension Crops and Water Extension Educator

Common bunt, also known as stinking smut, is caused by two closely related fungi. Tilletia caries, also known as Tilletia tritici, and Tilletia laevis. This year I worked with a grower in Morrill County who had three full circles of irrigated winter wheat seriously infected with common bunt. Infection of wheat occurs during germination and is favored by cool, wet conditions. The first indication of a problem was a cloud of black dust following the combine and grain cart during combining.

Upon closer inspection, the wheat was...