Common smut reduces sweet corn yield and ear processing quality

Abstract

The impact of natural infection of Ustilago maydis (causal agent of common smut) on processing characteristics of three F1 hybrid sweet corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars was evaluated in a 2-year study with early and late spring planting dates. At harvest maturity, size and location of galls were recorded and quality characteristics measured. Galls on the lower stalk, upper stalk, and tassel reduced fresh weight and diameter of husked ears, whereas galls on the base of the stalk reduced fresh weight only. Ear length was reduced by galls on the upper stalk. As gall size increased from 0 to greater than 10.2 cm in diameter, ear fresh weight and diameter decreased. The presence of galls greater than 10.2 cm in diameter reduced ear length. Kernel depth was unaffected by size or location of gall. Additional ears of the same three cultivars were sampled from commercial fields planted in midseason near Walla Walla and Patterson, WA. Galls located on the upper and lower stalk reduced fresh weight, length, and diameter, whereas galls on the base of the stalk reduced fresh weight only. As gall size increased, fresh weight, length, diameter, and kernel depth decreased.