Corn smut!?

[cptncrackoff]

Evening all!

I was harvesting some sweet corn and came accross what looks like a burst puffball.. I believe it's 'corn smut' caused by the fungus Ustilago maydis..

Despite reading up on it, I can't find good info on whether the other plants are now likely to suffer or advice on what I should expect in years to come!?

Has anyone had this before!?

[SusieG]

Sorry Cptn, I clicked on your post because I was just a little intrigued ....!
And was mildly disappointed to see it was just my imagination running away with me ....

Hope you get a sensible answer soon though...!

[happyhumph]

Don't worry SusieG - I also had images of sweetcorn in seductive poses half out of their cases.....!

Sorry cptn - hope someone with more knowledge & a cleaner mind comes along soon!))

[bario1]

Ewwwww gross!

[happyhumph]

Cptn's sweetcorn or mine & SusieG's minds?

[bario1]

Both!

[bario1]

Poor CaptCO still waiting for someone sensible to turn up!

[happyhumph]

Could be a long wait on this forum....

[cptncrackoff]

Haha!

Nutters, everywhere!!

[happyhumph]

We might not have been able to answer your question but at least we've made you laugh

[veggiechicken]

I have Smut on my Red Campion - just saying!

[happyhumph]

I'm officially putting my phone away - this thread is making me laugh to much and keeping me awake! Plus, of course, it's past the witching hour for me & my posts will start making even less sense than usual

[Nicos]

According to thus you can eat it!

Corn Smut, Mexican Truffles | Eat The Weeds and other things, too

And a bit more into...
Corn Smut

Do I win the prize your being the most sensible grape around at the moment?
( gawd help us all if I am! )

[Greenleaves]

Quite often the spores for smut are imported in manures from animals that have been fed infected corn as part of their diet.

I am not sure of the life cycle but any infected plants should be burnt and not composted. As the spores will survive over winter in the soil good crop rotation is also important.

Planting later in the year can also reduce the likelihood of it developing

[Cadalot]

Not what I thought the thread was about, but as always I have learnt something new here