Relationship between abnormal germination of Ustilago hordei teliospores and reduction in smut

Teliospores from three populations of Ustilago hordei were germinated at four temperatures and on four types of media. After 25 h on the three supplemented media, at 15-30°C, more than 70% of the teliospores from populations I and III produced spondia, while the level was less than 30% for II. Teliospores from each of the five dikaryons that were used to produce each of the three populations were also germinated and characterized. Two of the components of each of I and III and all five of II, had significantly fewer teliospores with sporidia; this was correlated with lower proportions of smutted plants after inoculation with teliospores, but not with sporidia.