Smuts get their name from the sooty black spore masses they produce. Though they can be a serious disease of corn, grains, and onions grown from seed. Some also affect anemone, gaillardia, ribbongrass, calendula, gladiolus, and dahlia. Few are a problem for the home gardener unless you are growing sweet corn. Smuts may also occasionally be encountered as a fungal disease in lawns.

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Sooty black spore mass of smut on ear of corn (Zea mays)
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Sooty black spore mass of smut on ear of corn (Zea mays)
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Smut on Bermuda grass lawn (Cynodon)
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Smut on Bermuda grass lawn (Cynodon)