Small wheatgrass patches can be cultivated at home for juicing.
Wheat grass is the vibrantly green, immature stage of wheat plants that, like any type of grass, is subject to fungal infections. Most nutritional experts agree wheat grass juice provides vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, though the extent of its benefits are debated. Small plots of wheatgrass can be grown at home, but -- as with any grain -- they are subject to fungal infections. Wheat grass infected with these microorganisms should not be juiced. Does this Spark an idea?
Stem and Leaf Rusts
Both stem rust, or Puccinia graminis tritici, and leaf rust, Puccinia recondita, produce pustules on wheat plants that turn black late in the season. Spores from these fungi typically spread from the southern to the northern regions of the country, and stem rust spores can reinfect the same plant every eight to 14 days. The two varieties are easily distinguishable by their pustules. Stem rust produces a brick red, elongated pustule on the plant's stem, leaf blade and/or sheath. Leaf rust produces orange pustules, which are usually confined to the leaves.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is one of the most common plant diseases, according to Colorado State University Extension. It is easily recognizable by the white to gray areas of powdery material covering the leaves, stems or heads of plants. If these patches have tiny black dots, the fungus is reproducing. In wheat grass, the fungus Erysiphe graminis tritici produces powdery mildew, and when the infection goes unabated, the leaf tissues yellow, brown and dry out. In severe cases, powdery mildew will reduce yields.
Septoria Leaf Blotches
Septoria leaf blotches are caused by several species of the fungus Septoria that produce straw-colored leaf spots. These spots turn gray to white in the center during later stages of development; accompanying black specks indicate reproductive bodies. Septoria spores are carried by infected stubble, straw and/or seeds, as well as spread by the wind and splashing rain. Wet conditions combined with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit provide an optimal environment for their growth.
Tan Spot
The fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis causes tan spot, which produces tan diamond-shaped or elliptical leaf spots, usually with a chocolate brown center and a yellow border. Its spores travel on infected straw, stubble, grasses and -- occasionally -- seeds, as well as on the air and splashing rain. One to two full days of constant moisture increase the likelihood of infection and, in severe cases, it will decrease yields.
Tags: fungal infections, graminis tritici, leaf spots, plants that, rust produces, rust Puccinia