Smut (fungus)
Encyclopedia
The smuts are multicellular fungi
, that are characterized by their large numbers of teliospores. The smuts get their name from a Germanic word for dirt because of their dark, thick-walled and dust-like teliospores. They are mostly Ustilaginomycetes
(of the class Teliomycetae, subphylum Basidiomycota
) and can cause plant disease. The smuts are grouped with the other basidiomycetes because of their commonalities concerning sexual reproduction.
Smuts are cereal and crop pathogens that most notably affect members of the grass
family (Graminaceae), including cereal
crops such as maize
. Examples of some of their common hosts are corn, barley, wheat, oats, sugarcane, and forage grasses. They initially attack the plant's reproductive system, forming gall
s which darken and burst, releasing fungal spore
s which infect other plants nearby. Before infection can occur, the smuts need to undergo a successful mating to form dikaryotic hyphae (two haploid cells fuse to form a dikaryon
).
or Ustilago scitaminea Sydow is caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum; previously known Ustilago scitaminea. The smut 'whip' is a curved black structure which emerges from the leaf whorl, that aids in the spreading of the disease. Sugarcane smut causes significant losses to the economic value of a sugarcane
crop. Sugarcane smut has recently been found in the eastern seaboard areas of Australia, one of the world's highest-yielding sugar areas.
For the sugarcane
crop to be infected by the disease, large spore concentrations are needed. The fungi uses its smut-whip to ensure that the disease is spread to other plants, which usually occurs over a time period of three months. As the inoculum is spread, the younger sugarcane buds just coming out of the soil will be the most susceptible of all the crops. Because water is necessary for spore germination, irrigation has shown to be a factor in spreading the disease. Therefore special precautions need to be taken when irrigated the areas of the crop to prevent spreading of the smut.
Another way to prevent the disease from occurring in the sugarcane is to use fungicide. This can be done by either pre-plant soaking or post-plant spraying with the specific fungicide. 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.
(Ustilago maydis) infects maize
and is a delicacy in Mexico
, where it was historically enjoyed by the Aztecs. It grows in the ears of the corn crops and converts the kernels into black, powdery fungal tissues. The smut is sold in the markets in Mexico while other parts of the world (including the United States
) continue to reject it as an ingredient for food dishes. The corn smut
is currently referenced as huitlacoche to the Mexicans, and the Aztecs formerly called it cuitlacoche. Investigators have recently found that the amount of protein in the corn smuts is said to be greater than the corn, oats and clover hay.
Huitlacoche is used for some of the following recipes:
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
, that are characterized by their large numbers of teliospores. The smuts get their name from a Germanic word for dirt because of their dark, thick-walled and dust-like teliospores. They are mostly Ustilaginomycetes
Ustilaginomycetes
Ustilaginomycetes is the class of true smut fungi. They are plant parasites with about 1400 recognised species in 70 genera....
(of the class Teliomycetae, subphylum Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya within the Kingdom Fungi...
) and can cause plant disease. The smuts are grouped with the other basidiomycetes because of their commonalities concerning sexual reproduction.
Smuts are cereal and crop pathogens that most notably affect members of the grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
family (Graminaceae), including cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
crops such as maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. Examples of some of their common hosts are corn, barley, wheat, oats, sugarcane, and forage grasses. They initially attack the plant's reproductive system, forming gall
Gall
Galls or cecidia are outgrowths on the surface of lifeforms caused by invasion by other lifeforms, such as parasites or bacterial infection. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues and can be caused by various parasites, from fungi and bacteria, to insects and mites...
s which darken and burst, releasing fungal spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s which infect other plants nearby. Before infection can occur, the smuts need to undergo a successful mating to form dikaryotic hyphae (two haploid cells fuse to form a dikaryon
Dikaryon
Dikaryon is from Greek, di meaning 2 and karyon meaning nut, referring to the cell nucleus.The dikaryon is a nuclear feature which is unique to some fungi, in which after plasmogamy the two compatible nuclei of two cells pair off and cohabit without karyogamy within the cells of the hyphae,...
).
Sugarcane smut
Sugarcane smutSugarcane smut
Sugarcane smut is a fungal disease of sugarcane caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum. It is sometimes known as culmicolous, which describes the outgrowth of fungus of the stalk of the cane. It attacks several sugarcane species and has been reported to occur on a few other grass species as...
or Ustilago scitaminea Sydow is caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum; previously known Ustilago scitaminea. The smut 'whip' is a curved black structure which emerges from the leaf whorl, that aids in the spreading of the disease. Sugarcane smut causes significant losses to the economic value of a sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
crop. Sugarcane smut has recently been found in the eastern seaboard areas of Australia, one of the world's highest-yielding sugar areas.
For the sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
crop to be infected by the disease, large spore concentrations are needed. The fungi uses its smut-whip to ensure that the disease is spread to other plants, which usually occurs over a time period of three months. As the inoculum is spread, the younger sugarcane buds just coming out of the soil will be the most susceptible of all the crops. Because water is necessary for spore germination, irrigation has shown to be a factor in spreading the disease. Therefore special precautions need to be taken when irrigated the areas of the crop to prevent spreading of the smut.
Another way to prevent the disease from occurring in the sugarcane is to use fungicide. This can be done by either pre-plant soaking or post-plant spraying with the specific fungicide. 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
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
cultivations.
Corn smut
Corn smutCorn smut
Corn smut is a pathogenic plant fungus that causes smut disease on maize and teosinte...
(Ustilago maydis) infects maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and is a delicacy in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where it was historically enjoyed by the Aztecs. It grows in the ears of the corn crops and converts the kernels into black, powdery fungal tissues. The smut is sold in the markets in Mexico while other parts of the world (including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) continue to reject it as an ingredient for food dishes. The corn smut
Corn smut
Corn smut is a pathogenic plant fungus that causes smut disease on maize and teosinte...
is currently referenced as huitlacoche to the Mexicans, and the Aztecs formerly called it cuitlacoche. Investigators have recently found that the amount of protein in the corn smuts is said to be greater than the corn, oats and clover hay.
Huitlacoche is used for some of the following recipes:
- soups
- stews
- steak sauces
- crepes
See also
- Loose smutLoose smutLoose smut of barley is caused by Ustilago nuda. It is a disease that can destroy a large proportion of a barley crop. Loose smut replaces grain heads with smut, or masses of spores which infect the open flowers of healthy plants and grow into the seed, without showing any symptoms...
, Ustilago nuda - Covered smut Tilletia tritici (syn. T. caries) and T. laevis (syn. T. foetida)
- TCK smutTilletia controversaTilletia controversa is a plant pathogen. It is a fungus known to cause the smut disease TCK smut in soft white and hard red winter wheats. It stunts the growth of the plants and leaves smut balls in the grain heads...
Tilletia controversa