What organism causes Karnal bunt disease in wheat?

-✅Explanation: Neovossia indica (formerly known as Tilletia indica) is the fungal pathogen responsible for causing Karnal bunt disease in wheat. This disease affects the wheat kernels, causing them to become smelly, blackened, and partially decayed, which leads to a reduction in grain quality.
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📌Other Options Explanations:
-Puccinia recondita: Causes leaf rust (different type of rust disease in wheat)
-Ustilago nuda: Causes loose smut (another type of smut disease in wheat)

🔑Key Points:
-Karnal bunt is also called a partial bunt. It is caused by the fungus Tilletia indica which infects grains at flowering.
-It reduces grain quality through the production of masses of powdery spores that discolor the grain and grain products.
-The name 'Karnal Bunt' comes from the city of Karnal in Haryana.
-The most susceptible hosts of the disease are-
-wheat
-durum wheat
-triticale
-Karnal bunt spreads mainly through the movement of infected grain. However, teliospores can be carried on machinery, trucks, animals, and anything that disturbs and moves the soil.
-Since only a few grains in each wheat head are infected, it is easiest to detect symptoms after the grain has been harvested.