The Bulletin. 



17 



Distribution in North Carolina. — Oat smut occurs in varying 

 amounts all over the State. 



Stinking smut of wheat has been reported from about one-fourth the 

 counties in the wheat-growing part of the State. It occurs typically in 

 restricted areas. 



Loose smut of wheat occurs generallv wherever wheat is grown. 



Corn smut has been reported from all sections of the State. 



Symptoms. — Oat smut changes the heads into a black powdery mass 

 before they shoot out from the sheaths. The grain and usually the 

 chaff are destroyed. The dusty mass is scattered, leaving a bare stalk. 



Fig. 8. Stinking Smut (left) and Loose Smut (right) of Wheat. * Note the dark interior of the 

 broken grains attacked by stinking smut. Two normal grains are shown below for comparison. 



Stinking smut of wheat converts the inside of the grain into a dark 

 powdery mass that has a disagreeable odor. The grains are small, 

 swollen, brown and light ; but their hulls and the chaff are not affected. 

 The heads stand erect in the field as the crop matures, and the chaff 

 and awns may spread unnaturally; otherwise the heads are not con- 

 spicuously abnormal. 



Loose smut of wheat converts the grain and chaff entirely into a 

 smut mass, and the spores are soon shed, leaving a bare stalk, very much 

 as in oat smut. 



Corn smut is characterized by the prominent swellings at first 

 whitish and moist, later becoming dry, black smut masses. These occur 



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