Corn smut
| 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 |
Corn smut is a plant disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Mycosarcoma maydis, synonym Ustilago 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, often eaten as a filling in quesadillas and other tortilla-based dishes, as well as in soups.