Head smut is a disease of corn found in the major corn growing areas of europe and the united states. The fungus infects corn plants during the early vegetative stages and grows systemically in the plant. Forming on the tassels and ears, galls are at first covered with a thin layer of tissue that breaks open to expose the black spore masses and threadlike remains of the vascular bundles. · head smut is caused by the fungus sphacelotheca reiliana. The causal agent is sphacelotheca reiliana, a fungus that attacks corn plants sporadically throughout the field, invading some plants, but leaving others unaffected. What is head smut ? Head smut is characterized by large smut galls that replace ears or tassels. Head smut of corn is caused by the fungus sphacelotheca reiliana and occurs in some fields in nebraska. · corn head smut is a serious fungal disease that can cause significant yield loss in corn crops. Yield loss due to the disease is variable and directly dependent upon the incidence of disease. It is caused by the pathogen sphacelotheca reiliana and can infect corn plants at any stage of growth, but the symptoms typically appear during the flowering and fruiting stages. Symptoms are not evident until plants reach reproductive stages. Head smut in corn is caused by the fungus sphacelotheca reiliana. Leaf-like proliferations develop on the tassel and ears. The potential for yield loss from common smut is greatest when seedlings become infected. Infected ears and tassels are replaced by smut sori (spore masses). The galls are first covered by fragile, creamy white membranes that eventually rupture to release masses of dark brown spores.
