What does loose smut do to a sorghum plant??

Loose smut is a fungal disease that infects sorghum plants. It causes the formation of black, powdery spores on the heads of the plant, which can reduce grain yield and quality. In severe cases, loose smut can cause complete loss of the crop. Additionally, infected seeds can spread the disease to other plants, leading to further damage in subsequent growing seasons.

Loose smut infects the sorghum plant at the seedling stage. The fungus grows systemically within the plant, and symptoms do not appear until the boot stage. At this stage, the infected panicles emerge from the boot and are covered with a black, powdery mass of smut spores. The spores are easily dispersed by wind and can infect other sorghum plants. Infected plants are stunted and produce little or no grain.