Which fungal disease spreads by seed and flowers?
- Loose smut of wheat
- Corn smut
- Covered smut of barley
- Soft rot of potato
Answer
(1) Loose smut of wheat
Solution
Loose smut of wheat is caused by Ustilago tritici (a basidiomycete smut fungus).
Its spores are carried by wind to the open flowers of healthy wheat plants, where they germinate and infect the developing ovary (flower infection).
The mycelium then remains dormant inside the embryo of the seed, so the disease is carried to the next crop through seed (internally seed-borne).
By contrast, covered smut of barley is externally seed-borne (seedling infection), corn smut infects any young tissue locally, and soft rot of potato is a bacterial disease.
∴ Loose smut of wheat spreads by seed and flowers.
Answer: (1)