Tilletia caries is a seedborne cereal disease with a high multiplication potential. Instead of seeds, bunt kernels are formed which are filled with millions of stinking smut spores. The bunt spores are located on the outside of the grain, on the seed coat. The bunt spores are thick-walled, globose spores with a net-like surface. The spores have a diameter of 14-25 µm and the colour is yellow-brown to dark brown. Picture 1 and 2: Spores of Tilletia caries, 400x magnification. Picture 3 and 4: Spores of Tilletia caries, 1000x magnification.
