In some varieties, it is necessary to crush the kernels to determine if heads are diseased. The offensive odor indicates the presence of heavy infections either in fields or in shipped grain. Infested wheat is usually condemned before shipment. While smut balls may be removed by cleaning and recleaning seed, spores will still be carried on kernels. Chemical seed treatment should be used to control spores on seed.
Lesions appear as pale green to yellow spots on the leaf.
As cells in the spot are killed it turns brown. Glume blotch occurs on the nodes, spikes, and glumes causing blackened areas. Stems are weakened and may bend or break just above the nodes. Seed may be shriveled, reducing yields and quality of grain. Seed treatment, rotation, deep burial of crop residue, foliar fungicides , and resistant varieties will reduce disease losses.