flag smut

noun

smut affecting leaves and stems of cereals and other grasses

• Hypernyms: ↑smut

* * *

noun

Etymology: flag (I)

1. : a smut of cereal and other grasses that chiefly affects the leaves and stems and is characterized by formation of linear chains of sori within the plant tissues which later rupture releasing black masses of spores and causing fraying of affected areas; especially : such a disease of wheat caused by a smut fungus (Urocystis tritici)

2. : a smut fungus causing flag smut

* * *

Plant Pathol.

a disease of cereals and other grasses, characterized by stripes of black spores on the affected leaves and stems, which later dry up and become shredded, caused by several smut fungi of the genus Urocystis.

* * *

flag smut,

a smut infecting wheat and other grasses, causing dwarfing and the appearance of dark lines on the leaf blades: »

Flag smut occurs on wheat in most of the world's major wheat countries but has caused heavy losses only in Australia (Holton and Tapke).