| Corn smut | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mycosarcoma maydis diploid teleospores | |
Scientific 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 names | huitlacoche (Mexico), blister smut of maize, boil smut of maize, common smut of maize |
| Causal agents | Mycosarcoma maydis |
| Hosts | maize and teosinte |
| EPPO Code | USTIMA |
| Distribution | Worldwide, 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.
- ^ Mycosarcoma maydis in Index Fungorum
- ^ Ustilago maydis in Index Fungorum
- ^ "Common smut of corn". apsnet.org. American Phytopathological Society. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ "Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ 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.