What is this fungus growing on top of corn? - Ask Extension
I noticed this growing atop the corn at my Mother in laws farm. Can anyone direct me to a link explaining this peculiar fellow?
Knowledgebase
What is this fungus growing on top of corn? #207894
Asked August 20, 2014, 4:05 PM EDT
I noticed this growing atop the corn at my Mother in laws farm. Can anyone direct me to a link explaining this peculiar fellow?
Cache County Utah
Expert Response
It looks like it could possibly be corn smut, where the ear never even formed or was able to be pollinated. If you slice it open, the iInterior will darken and turn to a powdery, black mass of spores.
http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/corn-zea-mays-common-smut
But I am not entirely sure about this diagnosis. If you'd like, you could collect it and submit it to the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab in Logan, UT. The fee is $7, and this link has all the info for submitting a sample: http://utahpests.usu.edu/uppdl/htm/forms
http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/corn-zea-mays-common-smut
But I am not entirely sure about this diagnosis. If you'd like, you could collect it and submit it to the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab in Logan, UT. The fee is $7, and this link has all the info for submitting a sample: http://utahpests.usu.edu/uppdl/htm/forms
