Disease of Maize: Head smut

 Head smut - Sphacelotheca reiliana

Symptoms

Symptoms are usually noticed on the cob and tassel. Large smut sori replace the tassel and the ear. Sometimes the tassel is partially or wholly converted into smut sorus. The smutted plants are stunted produce little yield and remain greener than that of the rest of the plants. 

Pathogen 

Smut spores are produced in large numbers which are reddish brown to black, thick 

walled, finely spined, spherical. 

Favourable Conditions 

• Low temperature favours more infection and this fungus also infects the sorghum 

Disease cycle 

The smut spores retain its viability for two years. The fungus is externally seedborne and 

soil-borne. The major source of infection is through soil-borne chlamydospores.

Management 

• Field sanitation. 

• Crop rotation with pulses. 

• Treat the seeds with Captan or Thiram at 4 g/kg.