Physiologic Specialization of Loose Smut of Wheat in the Punjab State of India. H. S. Rewal, Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India. J. S. Jhooty, Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India. Plant Dis. 70:228-230. Accepted for publication 14 May 1985. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-228.

Three races (T1, T10, and T11) of Ustilago tritici were identified from the Punjab State of India. The incidence of T1, T10, and T11 was 8.8, 30.0, and 61.3%, respectively. Composition of the loose smut population was not affected by climatic conditions but by the predominant wheat cultivars in a region. Partial infection of wheat heads was found to be due to environmental factors rather than to any specific race.