| Loose smut | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Ustilaginomycetes |
| Order: | Ustilaginales |
| Family: | Ustilaginaceae |
| Genus: | Ustilago |
| Species: | U. nuda
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| Binomial name | |
| Ustilago nuda | |
Loose smut of barley is caused by Ustilago nuda.[2] It is a disease that can destroy a large proportion of a barley crop. Loose smut replaces grain heads with smut, or masses of spores which infect the open flowers of healthy plants and grow into the seed, without showing any symptoms. Seeds appear healthy and only when they reach maturity the following season is it clear that they were infected. Systemic fungicides are the major control method for loose smut.
- ^ "Index Fungorum - Names Record". www.speciesfungorum.org. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ^ Martens, J.W.; W.L. Seaman; T.G. Atkinson (1984). Diseases of field crops in Canada. Canadian Phytopathological Society. pp. 160 pp.