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Black (Sooty) Molds
Sooty' mold fungi may be abundant on mature small grain crops this year. Black or green-black superficial molds often develop on stems or heads when wet weather accompanies maturation, and especially when harvest is delayed. Plants that are lodged or damaged by diseases also may support sooty' molds. Sooty' molds also may be observed on leaves of other crops, if high humidities and aphid dew are present.
The sooty' mold fungi observed on the above crops have been species of Alternaria and Cladosporium. These two fungi are considered saprophytes, colonizing dead or dying tissue. They do not harm the plant, except for possibly shading green tissue. Also, these fungi do not form toxic substances if fed to livestock, but the abundance of mold spores could cause some breathing or allergenic reactions at harvest.
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