Patches of dull, charcoal gray fungus may be visible on the outside of the stems. This is similar to Hessian fly damage, except Hessian fly usually causes breakage just above a node. Strawbreaker and Hessian fly can also be separated by looking at the stem bases. Strawbreaker produces dull, charcoal-gray patches of fungus on the lower stem. Although both diseases cause white heads, strawbreaker does not cause root rot and severe stunting like take-all.
Lodging is usually multi-directional.
Although the strawbreaker fungus is seldom seen in Kansas, it obviously survives at low levels on wheat or alternative grassy hosts. Inoculum takes several years to build up to damaging levels so strawbreaker is not a problem in first year wheat. Second year continuous wheat is sometimes affected and third year wheat is often severely attacked. Spores are produced on old wheat residues during the late fall, winter, and early spring. Spores initiate new infections on the lower leaf sheaths.