The fungus becomes active when the seed germinates and grows into the growing point of the developing wheat plant. Fungal growth closely follows the plants' growth. When the flowers form, the fungus again sporulates and starts the cycle again. Use a systemic fungicide seed treatment to eliminate this pathogen from infected seed. Head scab, caused by Fusarium spp., is frequently a major cause of poor quality wheat seed in Ohio.
Infected seed appear whitish to reddish in color and are nearly always shrunken and light in weight.
Scabby kernels may be dead or the young seedling may be killed by seedling blight after emerging from the soil. Roots of plants killed by seedling blight appear light to reddish brown in color and may be covered with mold. If they survive, they generally lack vigor and may produce only a few weak tillers. Planting infected seed early when soil temperatures are above 60 degrees F generally increases loss from seedling blight. Head scab of wheat Stagonospora glume blotch, caused by the fungus Stagonospora nodorum has increased in the US in recent years probably due to expanded use of nitrogen fertilizers, semidwarf wheat varieties, and reduced tillage.