Head Smut (fungus - Sporisorium reilianum): This soil-borne fungus attacks both corn and sorghum. It appears on the ear and tassels. Tassel infection may be from individual spihelets or a large mass of black spores. Smutted ears are small and tear-drop shaped, with no evidence of a cob or kernels inside photo. Usually if the tassels are smutted, all the ears will be smutted. Controls include resistant varieties or hybrids and rotation.
