Corn smut is a fairly common disease caused by the fungus Ustilago maydis. It's most common on sweet corn but can also occur in pop corn and field corn. Corn smut can infect various parts of the corn plant including stalks, leaves, and tassels, but it is most apparent when it infects the ears. The fungus infects developing corn kernels, causing the formation of galls which can grow to several inches in diameter. These galls have a silvery gray outer coating of corn tissue, so they look like inflated corn kernels. Inside the gall is a mass of black fungus. When the galls mature the outer layer dries and cracks open, releasing powdery black spores to spread by wind and rain splashing. Warm, wet weather promotes the development and spread of the fungus.
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