Loose Smut (fungus - Ustilago tritici): Loose smut destroys the grain and all glume structures of the spike leaving only the central rachis, which head early. Infected plants, produce smut spores that are wind-borne to healthy plants at flowering time. Spores germinate and germ tubes penetrate the young wheat ovaries where the fungus remain dormant until those seed germinate. Use of seed treatment fungicides and disease-free seed will prevent this disease.