Corn Ear Smut

a nonparasitic disease that occurs throughout the world, especially in the central chernozem regions of the RSFSR and the forest-steppe of the Ukrainian SSR. Owing to variation in the rate of growth of the endosperm and the seed coat, fissures with protruding endosperm form in the corn seeds. Dry weather at the beginning of the grain-forming period, followed by rain, fosters the disease. The quality of the ears is impaired, as they are severely infected by fungi. The majority of shoots that develop from diseased seeds die. The disease may be transmitted by heredity. Means of combating corn ear smut include proper storage of seed material, the culling of diseased ears, maintenance and careful use of moisture in the soil, and uniform watering, especially during the grain-forming period.