The new law will likely take effect in September 1998. Monsanto, once an opponent of labeling genetically modified crops in Europe, has reversed its position. While the company still does not believe there are scientific reasons for labeling its Roundup Ready soybeans, consumer pressure for labeling has been great in Europe. The grain in these heads is generally shriveled and not as full as normal kernels. The appearance of the sooty mold is an indication of a problem that occurred earlier in the season, resulting in the early death of the head, and is usually associated with poor grain filling.
Fungi then begin growing on the dead tissue, thus the appearance of sooty mold symptoms.
Sooty mold does not cause the kernels to be shriveled. The most common fungi growing on the glumes are species of Alternaria and Cladosporium. Root rots, such as take-all, or insect problems in the stem may have caused the initial problems. At this late stage, it can be very difficult to diagnose the exact cause. Sooty mold does not present a problem for the seed.