Q189 / 200 · NEET 2002 · Zoology
Which fungal disease spreads by seed and flowers?
- Correct answerALoose smut of wheat
- BCorn stunt
- CCovered smut of barley
- DSoft rot of potato
Solution
Loose smut of barley is caused by Ustilago nuda. 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. It is a seed borne disease; infection occurs during Loose Smut flowering through wind-borne spores.
So, the correct answer is 'Loose smut of Wheat'.
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.