| a disease of corn caused by a fungus, Ustilago maydis, and characterized by blackish, powdery masses of spores on the affected parts of the plant. |
| corn smut n. See cuitlacoche. |
cuit·la·co·che  (kwēt'lä-kō'chā)  n. A bulbous black fungus (Ustilago maydis) that infects corn, producing silvery, swollen, pebblelike kernels. The kernels have a smoky-sweet flavor and are sometimes harvested and used in a variety of Mexican dishes. Also called corn smut, maize mushroom, Mexican truffle. [American Spanish, from Nahuatl quitlacochtli : quitlatl, dung + cochtli, asleep.] |
corn smut
disease of plants caused by the fungus Ustilago maydis, which attacks corn (maize) plants, affecting any aboveground part. The early signs of an attack are whitish galls that later rupture to release dark spores capable of infecting other corn plants. Affected plants are often distorted. The disease is most vigorous in warm weather. Spores overwinter in soil and in corn litter and then infect the next year's planting.
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