The main symptoms of common bunt are fungal structures called "bunt balls," which resemble kernels but are completely filled with black teliospores. The bunt balls of common bunt, caused by Tilletia tritici and T. laevis, are about the same size and shape as the kernels they replace. When bunt balls are crushed, they give off a fetid or fishy odor. Considerable yield losses can occur when susceptible cultivars are grown or chemical seed treatments are not used.