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Karnal
Bunt. Karnal
Bunt, or partial bunt, is a fungal disease of wheat, durum wheat
and triticale. The disease is caused by spores. Typically, only
a portion of the kernel is affected; this is why the disease is
sometimes called partial bunt. Damage is twofold; 1.) infested plants
produce less grain, 2.) the quality of the grain itself is lessened.
Although the overall crop losses caused by Karnal Bunt might not
be severe, the disease has quarantine significance and therefore
could affect US grain exports. A National survey plan developed
by APHIS is the guideline which each wheat growing state follows.
In 1998, 67 elevator facilities were sampled one time during the
Arkansas wheat harvest. The Oklahoma State University lab facility
in Stillwater was chosen as the regional KB testing site. In addition
to these grain samples, 10 certified wheat seed samples were also
compiled by variety and samples submitted. All grain and seed samples
were negative for the Karnal Bunt spore.
The following is a breakdown of counties where elevators were sampled:
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