Smut (fungus)

[3] Smuts are cereal and crop pathogens that most notably affect members of the grass family (Poaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).

Economically important hosts include maize, barley, wheat, oats, sugarcane, and forage grasses.

Sugarcane smut is caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum, previously known as Ustilago scitaminea.

Water is necessary for the spores to germinate, and irrigation methods have been shown to be a factor in spreading the disease.

Pre-plant soaking has been proven to give the best results in preventing the disease, but post-plant spraying is a practical option for large sugarcane cultivations.

It grows in the ears of the crop and converts the kernels into black, powdery fungal tissues.

The smut, called huitlacoche by Mexicans and formerly called cuitlacoche by the Aztecs, is a delicacy in Mexico sold in the markets for use in various dishes including soups, stews, steak sauces, and crepes, while in other parts of the world (including the United States) it is not accepted as a food.