Barley loose smut seriously affects the flowering part of the crop. What is barley loose smut? It is a seed-borne illness caused by the fungus Ustilago nuda. It can occur anywhere barley is grown from untreated seed. The name comes from the loose seed heads produced that are covered in black spores. You don't want this in your field, so keep reading for more barley loose smut info.
What is Barley Loose Smut?
Barley plants that have begun flowering and develop dark, diseased heads likely have loose smut of barley. The plants will look completely normal until they start to flower, which makes it difficult to get an early diagnosis. Barley with loose smut releases teliospores that infect other plants in the field. Crop losses are massive.
Barley with loose smut will become apparent at heading. Plants with the disease normally head earlier than healthy plants. Instead of producing kernels, olive black teliospores colonize the entire head. They are enclosed in a grayish membrane the soon fractures, releasing the spores. These dust over normal barley heads, infecting the seed and starting the process anew.
The disease survives in the barley seeds as dormant mycelium. Germination of that seed wakes up the fungus which colonizes the embryo. Infections are encouraged by cooler, wet weather in temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 21 C.).
Damage from Loose Smut of Barley
Barley heads have three spikes, each of which can produce 20 to 60 grains. When barley with loose smut is present, each and every seed, which is the commercial commodity, will fail to develop. After the teliospores rupture, all that is left are the empty rachis, or seed heads.
Barley is a cultivated crop in tropical and subtropical regions. The seed is used as animal feed and made into beverages, particularly malt beverages. It is also a food cereal for humans and a commonly planted cover crop. The loss of the seed heads from loose smut represents a huge economic hit but, in some countries, the grain is so relied upon that human food insecurity can result.
Barley Loose Smut Treatment
Developing resistant strains has not been a priority. Instead, barley loose smut treatment consists of treated seed, which is certified pathogen-free, and the use of fungicides. Fungicides must be systemically active in order to work.
In some cases, hot water treatment of the seed can remove the pathogen, but it must be done carefully to prevent damage to the embryo. The grain is first pre-soaked in warm water for 4 hours and then spends 10 minutes in a hot tank at 127 to 129 degrees Fahrenheit (53 to 54 C.). The treatment does delay germination but is fairly successful.
Fortunately, disease-free seed is readily available.
-
10 Best Apartment Plants To Turn Your Small Space Into An OasisThe best apartment plants can lend an ambience of the tropics, brighten up a space, or add a touch of drama, and turn an apartment into a relaxing oasis.
-
Grow a Bathroom Oasis: 8 Best Bathroom Plants With No Light or Low LightSome apartment dwellers grow the best bathroom plants with no light or low light. Read how one of our favorite plant lovers does it in the big city.
-
Growing Malted Barley – How To Grow Beer Barley At HomeToday, there are many beer making kits available, but why not take it a step further by growing your own malted barley. Click on the following article to find out how to grow and harvest malted beer barley from your own backyard.
-
Barley Harvest Tips – How And When To Harvest BarleyYou can easily grow a few rows of barley in your backyard garden. The trick to getting a good crop is knowing how and when to harvest barley. Click here for information about how to harvest barley, including tips on the timing of a barley harvest.
-
Barley Grain Care Guide: Can You Grow Barley At HomeCan you grow barley at home? You don't need acres of land to grow barley in the garden, but it may be hard to source small amounts of seed. Even if you are not a beer enthusiast, you can learn how to grow barley for bread, soups and stews. This article can get you started.
-
Barley Tillering And Heading Information – Learn About Barley Heads And TillersIf you are thinking of growing barley in your home garden, you’ll need to learn about barley tillering and heading. What are barley tillers? What is a barley head? Click on the following article to learn the ins and outs of tillering and heading of barley plants.
-
Barley Basal Glume Blotch – How To Treat Glume Rot On Barley PlantsBasal glume blotch is a disease that can affect cereal grains, including barley, and can cause serious damage to the plant and even kill young seedlings. Click the following article to learn more about recognizing and treating basal glume blotch of barley crops.
-
Spot Blotch Of Barley: How To Treat Barley With Spot Blotch DiseaseBarley spot blotch disease can affect any part of the plant at any time. The disease can reduce yield and kill young plants. Click on the following article to learn about the steps to prevent and treat barley spot blotch.
-
Barley Leaf Blotch Control: Treating Barley Speckled Leaf BlotchBarley speckled leaf blotch is a fungal disease resulting in lower yields. While barley with leaf blotch is not a fatal condition, it opens the crop up to further infections that can decimate the field. Learn about preventing and treating leaf blotch in barley crops here.
-
Barley Plant Nematodes: What Are Some Nematodes That Affect Barley
There are a variety of nematodes that affect barley and other small grain crops. If you have any of these crops in your garden, click here for information on the nematodes of barley. We’ll also give you tips on how to prevent barley nematodes.
