Blind Seed Disease

Abstract

Alderman, Stephen C. 2001. Blind Seed Disease. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Miscellaneous Publication No. 1567. 36 pp.

In blind seed disease, unfertilized or developing seed of susceptible grasses are colonized by the fungus Gloeotinia temulenta. Infection results in loss of seed germination. About 56 species of grasses are susceptible, including important forage and turf grasses such as ryegrass and tall fescue. The disease occurs in all areas of production of cool season grasses grown for seed. Germination in infected seed samples has been reported as low as 1 percent in New Zealand, 13 percent in the United States, and 50 percent in Great Britain. Blind seed disease continues to periodically plague growers in New Zealand, and a recent reappearance of blind seed in the United States has renewed interest in the disease. This monograph provides a comprehensive review of our understanding of G. temulenta and blind seed disease, including host and geographical distribution, taxonomy, biology, and control.

Keywords: Disease management, disease distribution, Gloeotinia, grass seed, host range, seed production, seed quality

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United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service

The material on this page is in the public domain.

Original posting: October 2001.