When melanism occurs on glumes it causes dark purple to black steaks or blotches on the glumes. A dark purple to purple-brown ring or collar forms at each joint. Often the leaf sheath much be peeled away to see this symptom. Other varieties can develop purple stems as well but this melanism seems to be most common in the above varieties in Montana. Riesselman, J. Purpling in spring wheat.
Affected leaves become chlorotic and die prematurely.
The first symptom is often a tiny brown spot or fleck on the lower leaves. Spots may or may not be surrounded by a chlorotic halo. Spots then enlarge into brown necrotic areas or oval to irregular shapes, with or without chlorotic halos. Some minor-element deficiencies. Physiological leaf spot, tan spot, and Septoria leaf blotch are each suppressed by crop rotation, selection of resistant cultivars, and delayed seeding.