Symptoms

• The individual grains are replaced by smut sori. Sori are covered with creamy skin. Sori can be localized at a particular part of the head, or can occur over the entire inflorescence.
• Ratoon crops exhibit a higher disease incidence

Management

• Seed treatment with Carboxin (Vitavax) @ 2g/kg or Captan/Thiram 4g/kg of seed.
• Collect smutted earheads in cloth bags and destruct by dipping in boiling water.
• Avoid rationing