Ustilaginomycetes

The Ustilaginomycetes are a class of fungi within the Basidiomycota phylum. This class includes the smut fungi, which are primarily parasitic on plants, particularly grasses like corn, wheat, and sugarcane.12

The dikaryotic phase of these fungi is parasitic, while their haploid phase is saprotrophic. Smut fungi are characterized by the formation of sootlike masses of spores called sori, which typically appear within blisters on various plant parts such as seeds, leaves, and stems. These spores are easily dispersed by wind.12

Control measures for smut diseases include planting resistant varieties, treating seeds with fungicides, and removing infected plants before spores are released.2