Picking Wheat and Combine is Dusty Black

Loose Smut and Sooty head molds can turn grain heads black.

With Loose Smut, the normal head tissue of plants infected by loose smut is completely replaced with dark masses of fungal spores, giving the heads a black powdery appearance. This can happen early in the grain head development.  It is possible to see heads damaged by loose smut while much of the head is still inside the boot. Only the central stem of the head is left after the spores are released.

Sooty head molds are characterized by a dark green or black mold growth on the surface of mature wheat heads. These molds are part of a naturally occurring complex of organisms that help to decay dead plant debris.

Sooty molds are most common when mature wheat is subjected to repeated rains and delayed harvest.

The sooty head mold growth is normally superficial.  Its effect on grain is thought to be minor, but it can make for dusty harvest operations. Sooty molds can contribute to a discoloration of the grain called “black point.” which has little effect on grain quality.

With continued rainfall, sooty head mold is going the get worse as the season continues.