Tilletia caries
Encyclopedia
Tilletia caries is a plant pathogen that infects wheat
causing the disease bunt
. Plants infected with the disease are often slightly stunted, occasionally with yellow streaks on the flag leaf
. Grain
is replaced with bunt balls containing masses of black spore
s. At ripening, the ears take longer to lose their green colour, are short and plump and the glumes are pushed further apart. The spores of bunt have a strong fish-like smell. Infection occurs at harvest or during grain handling when the spores are spread to healthy seed.
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
causing the disease bunt
Bunt
A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. In a bunt play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball into play.- Bunting technique :...
. Plants infected with the disease are often slightly stunted, occasionally with yellow streaks on the flag leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
. Grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
is replaced with bunt balls containing masses of black spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s. At ripening, the ears take longer to lose their green colour, are short and plump and the glumes are pushed further apart. The spores of bunt have a strong fish-like smell. Infection occurs at harvest or during grain handling when the spores are spread to healthy seed.