(STL PR) What is Corn Smut? A Danforth Center Scientist Explains

St. Louis Public Radio featured Donald Danforth Plant Science Center scientist Dilip Shah in a piece on St. Louis's growing huitlacoche (corn smut) trend, which has started popping up on local menus and grocery shelves. Shah explained that the fungus is "basically uncontrolled growth of corn tissue," a tumor-like growth caused by fungus. Heat stress first weakens a corn plant's natural defenses, letting the fungus's spores get in and reprogram its cells to divide uncontrollably. Once inside, humidity can speed up how quickly corn smut grows.