Take-all is most likely to occur in early seeded wheat and when plants are under nitrogen stress. The disease is most common where wheat is grown continuously or without adequate rotation, but it can occur in wheat the first year out of sod. The fungus is not seed-borne. Frequently these early symptoms go unnoticed or they may be confused with many other conditions, such as problems related to nutrition or soil moisture. The most obvious symptoms, however, occur about the time of heading and thereafter.
Infected plants die prematurely, generally within circular patches in the field.
These plants appear bleached or straw-colored prior to normal maturity. Tillering is also reduced, frequently resulting in only one head per plant or, under severe conditions, none. The main roots, crown and basal culm tissue show a dry rot. This is accompanied by a dark- brown to black surface mat of fungus tissue underneath the leaf sheath at the base of the plants. Control involves the use of several cultural practices.