Seed cleaned to remove plant residue and lightweight kernels, then treated to achieve thorough coverage of the seed surface, will result in better final stands, especially if adverse weather conditions occur after planting. Lack of control of seedling blights may result in serious winter kill of diseased seedlings. However, since the development of effective seed treatments, their occurrence has been reduced to very low levels. The universal use of systemic fungicides would eliminate smut and bunt diseases as problems to wheat growers. Common bunt was once the most devasting disease of wheat in Ohio.
Seed treatment is the only method of control.
The florets are converted to black, dusty spores that are blown away by the wind leaving only a naked spike. Control is through use of systemic seed treatments. No single fungicide will eliminate all seed and soil-borne diseases. Therefore, a combination of a good smut fungicide with a fungicide effective against seedling blights is recommended. Several chemical companies have products containing combinations of fungicides effective against both seedling blights and smut diseases.