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Head
Smut (fungus - Sporisorium
reilianum) is soil borne fungus that attacks both corn and sorghum and is
rarely found in the United States. Infection is most common on the ear, but may
occur on tassels. Galls are covered with a thin tissue only, not the white
peridium found with common smut - spore masses are dry. Fine threads of vascular
tissue are found throughout the galls. Tassel infection may be from individual
spihelets or a large mass of black spores. Smutted ears are small and tear-drop
shaped, with no evidence of a cob or kernels inside. Usually if the tassels are
smutted, all the ears will be smutted. Controls include resistant varieties or
hybrids and rotation. Most US hybrids are tolerant to Head Smut. Picture:
Head smut on the left compared with common
smut on the right.
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