Corn smut

Corn smut
Mycosarcoma maydis diploid teleospores
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Ustilaginomycetes
Order: Ustilaginales
Family: Ustilaginaceae
Genus: Mycosarcoma
Species:
M. maydis
Binomial name
Mycosarcoma maydis
Synonyms
Corn smut
Huitlacoche
Common nameshuitlacoche (Mexico), blister smut of maize, boil smut of maize, common smut of maize
Causal agentsMycosarcoma maydis
Hostsmaize and teosinte
EPPO CodeUSTIMA
DistributionWorldwide, where corn is grown[3][4]

Corn smut is a plant disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Mycosarcoma maydis. One of several cereal crop pathogens called smut, the fungus forms galls on all above-ground parts of corn species such as maize and teosinte. The infected corn is edible; in Mexico, it is considered a delicacy, called huitlacoche,[5] often eaten as a filling in quesadillas and other tortilla-based dishes, as well as in soups.

  1. ^ Mycosarcoma maydis in Index Fungorum
  2. ^ Ustilago maydis in Index Fungorum
  3. ^ "Common smut of corn". apsnet.org. American Phytopathological Society. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  5. ^ Peterson, James (27 March 2012). Vegetables, Revised: The Most Authoritative Guide to Buying, Preparing, and Cooking, with More than 300 Recipes. Random House. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-60774-205-0. Retrieved 24 October 2013 – via Google Books.