Common Smut of Corn

Symptoms

Large galls filled with black spore masses developing on ears, tassels, or stalks.

Favorable conditions

• •Mechanical injury during cultivation or hail damage creating infection sites
• •Warm, dry conditions followed by wet weather

Management

1. 1Plant resistant hybrids
2. 2Avoid unnecessary mechanical injury to plants
3. 3Remove and destroy galls before they rupture
4. 4Rotate crops