Head Smut

Head smut is characterized by large smut galls that replaceearsor tassels. The galls are first covered by fragile, creamy white membranes that eventually rupture to release masses of dark brown spores. Within the masses of spores are more or less intact threadlike strands of vascular bundles, giving the spore masses a stringy appearance. The vascular bundles within the galls readily differentiate head smut from common smut. In head smut,leaflike proliferationsoften occur in tassels and pa