Diseases

Spelt smut

Triticum aestivum L. subsp. spelta (L.) Thell.

A group of fungal diseases of spelt caused by pathogens of the genus Triticum, including loose, common (bunt), and dwarf bunt. A distinctive feature of crop protection is the role of dense glumes that prevent spore penetration.

In the reference 5 varieties crop Spelt, where this is mentioned in the description.

The pathogens of spelt smut are the same as those affecting common wheat: Ustilago tritici for loose smut, Tilletia tritici and Tilletia laevis for common bunt, and Tilletia controversa, which causes dwarf bunt. Symptoms appear at the heading stage for loose smut as the destruction of spike tissues, and during the milk-ripe stage for common bunt as the replacement of grain with a spore mass characterized by a trimethylamine odor.

An important factor in spelt resistance is its hulled nature. Dense floral glumes serve as a passive barrier that hinders the infection process. In breeding for resistance to common bunt, marker-assisted selection methods are used to identify specific Bt series genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL), similar to those applied to common wheat.

General information about the subject — on the page Smut.

Sources8

Varieties of Spelt mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.