Mail Smut Figure 1. Sweet corn tassel with mature common smut galls.
Smut is a fungus which produces massive amounts of black spores.
The disease can kill the plant or cause stunted growth. Control this disease with crop rotation and removing any infected plants. Also, remove any spore boils before they burst and spread the disease. If setting out plants, use healthy sets. Corn smut Corn smut is an extremely common disease of sweet, pop, and dent corn in Ohio and throughout the world.