Abstract 



Alderman, Stephen C. 2001. Blind Seed Disease. 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural 

 Research Service. Miscellaneous Publication No. 

 1567. 36 pp. 



Copies of this publication may be purchased from the 

 National Technical Information Service. 5285 Port 

 Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; telephone 

 (703) 605-6000. 



In blind seed disease, unfertilized or developing seed 

 of susceptible grasses are colonized by the fungus 

 Gloeotinia temulenta. Infection results in loss of seed 

 germination. About 56 species of grasses are suscep- 

 tible, including important forage and turf grasses such 

 as ryegrass and tall fescue. The disease occurs in all 

 areas of production of cool season grasses grown for 

 seed. Germination in infected seed samples has been 

 reported as low as 1 percent in New Zealand, 13 

 percent in the United States, and 50 percent in Great 

 Britain. Blind seed disease continues to periodically 

 plague growers in New Zealand, and a recent reap- 

 pearance of blind seed in the United States has re- 

 newed interest in the disease. This monograph pro- 

 vides a comprehensive review of our understanding of 

 G. temulenta and blind seed disease, including host 

 and geographical distribution, taxonomy, biology, and 

 control. 



Keywords: Disease management, disease distribution, 

 Gloeotinia, grass seed, host range, seed production, 

 seed quality 



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November 2001 



