Can corn mushrooms be eaten?

Corn mushrooms are a kind of fungus that grows on corn. They are also called smut mushrooms. They are delicious and nutritious. They usually grow before the corn becomes ears. They are also a kind of disease of corn, but they are edible. They are rich in nutritional value and can supplement the nutrients needed by the body. The method is also very simple. They can be fried and taste very good.

Can corn mushrooms be eaten?

It can be eaten. It is called corn smut, also known as corn smut and corn black mold.

The size and shape of the spore pile are irregular, mostly tumor-like, 3-15 cm in length or diameter. In the early stage, there is a layer of white membrane on the outside, which is often formed by parasitic tissue, sometimes with yellow-green or purple-red color, and then gradually turns grayish white to gray. After bursting, a large amount of black powder, namely winter spores, is released.

The parasite can grow on any part of the corn during the period of tasseling and cob formation. Winter spores overwinter in soil, manure, diseased plant remains, etc., and are spread through the air to corn plants the following year, causing smut. This fungus is widely distributed and is one of the main diseases of corn.

In many places in Hebei, every household in the village grows corn. This mushroom is called corn. It is a kind of fungus that not only grows on corn, but also on sorghum.

The way to eat it is also very simple. Peel it and wash it clean, then stir-fry it with meat like other mushrooms.

The "mushrooms" on corn are actually not as delicious as those on sorghum. But sorghum is rarely seen nowadays.

Causes of corn smut

1. The presence of corn smut in the environment is the main factor causing corn smut. For plots of land where corn smut has occurred, other crops that are not easily infected by corn smut, such as soybeans and peanuts, should be planted for 2 to 3 consecutive years.

2. Corn has poor disease resistance and is not drought-tolerant, which can also cause corn smut. In addition, early-maturing varieties have a lower incidence rate than late-maturing varieties. In areas with a high incidence of corn smut, we should try to choose early-maturing corn varieties that are disease-resistant and drought-tolerant.

3. Corn smut is mostly infected through wounds, and corn without wounds rarely suffers from this disease. Therefore, doing a good job in preventing and controlling pests such as corn borers can reduce the occurrence of corn smut to a large extent.

Prevention and Control of Corn Smut

For corn smut, comprehensive prevention should be the main approach to reduce the occurrence of the disease as much as possible. First, implement crop rotation on prone plots, and rotate other crops at least every three years; second, choose corn varieties with good resistance, and use fungicides to mix the seeds; finally, strengthen field management and pest control, and carry out fertilization and irrigation reasonably.

When corn smut occurs, the best way is to remove the diseased plants and dispose of them harmlessly by deep burial or burning, which can effectively control the spread of corn smut. If conditions permit, antibacterial drugs such as carbendazim, bethame-methyl, polyoxin, fungicide and fosetyl-Al can be used for spraying, which can play a role in auxiliary treatment and increase protection.