Symptoms of stripe smut disease in rye

The pathogen that causes stripe smut disease is unusual. It only infects rye and the symptoms differ from the other types of smut that affect UK cereals. Learn about its life cycle and how to detect its presence.

The pathogen (Urocystis occulta) that causes this rye disease is sporadic and rarely causes significant loss.

The disease is soilborne and seedborne.

Soilborne inoculum is more important than with the other smuts that affect UK-grown cereals.

As with bunt, seeds are infected during germination.

This disease also differs from the other types of smut that affect UK cereals because symptoms can be seen not only on the ears, but also on the stems and leaves.

Infected plants may appear yellowish and stunted.

Infection results in long, dark blisters in stripes that run parallel to the veins.

Blisters eventually rupture to expose the spores.

Developing grains are contaminated by wind-blown spores, but the spores remain on the seed surface.