Stinking Smut or Bunt (fungus - Tilletia foetida): Heads affected by stinking smut fungus have a distinct blue cast. At bloom time infected heads are more slender than healthy heads and do not put out pollen sacks. At maturity they appear plumper but lighter in weight than normal heads. The smut ball consists of a mass of foul-smelling, dark-brown powder (spores of the stinking smut fungus). In the field, smutted heads usually stand more nearly erect than healthy heads because of their lighter weight. In some varieties, it is necessary to crush the kernels to determine if heads are diseased. The offensive odor indicates the presence of heavy infections either in fields or in shipped grain. Infested wheat is usually condemned before shipment. While smut balls may be removed by cleaning and recleaning seed, spores will still be carried on kernels. Chemical seed treatment should be used to control spores on seed.