DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- You may have noticed harvest conditions have taken on a dark, foreboding look. The black soot currently decorating machines, hands and nearly everything it touches is most likely the result of saprophytic fungi and not any cause for alarm.
It is common and nature's way of degrading plant tissue at the end of the season.
Iowa State University Plant Pathologist Alison Robertson said wet weather followed by warm, humid weather and morning dews favor growth of these organisms. They are not known to produce toxins, and the harvested grain should look relatively clean. Since they are not pathogens of crops, this black mold will not be a source of inoculum for diseases next year.
Individuals with allergies or respiratory problems are encouraged to wear dust masks to reduce breathing in masses of spores. Saprophytic fungi are a big contributor to the mold portion of the pollen and mold counts. It's also important to keep combine engines and can filters clean. If your family is picky, laundering your clothes separately is advised.