Plant diseases caused by fungi of the order * Ustilaginales , so named because of the black spore masses usually produced on the host. In the covered smuts, such as covered smut of barley (Ustilago hordei), the mature spore mass remains within the sorus for a while, often until the sorus is dispersed from the host. However in the loose smuts, such as loose smut of wheat (U. nuda), the spores form an uncovered mass of black powder. Seed treatment with fungicides is the usual control method. See also bunt. |
