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Glite Dictionary
head smut

head smut

9.9
A fungal disease that makes corn or sorghum flowers turn into a black spore mass covered by a thin skin
  • noun
  • /hɛd smʌt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mugre de la espiga
  • Proper crop rotation can help reduce the incidence of head smut in the field.

Examples

  • Researchers are working to breed resistant varieties to prevent head smut from damaging sorghum crops.

  • The farmer was concerned when he saw head smut developing on several ears of corn.

  • The corn was affected by head smut this season.

  • Farmers are concerned about head smut in their crops.

  • Proper crop rotation can help reduce the incidence of head smut in the field.

  • Researchers are working to breed resistant varieties to prevent head smut from damaging sorghum crops.

  • The farmer was concerned when he saw head smut developing on several ears of corn.

Synonyms

smut
vshead smut
  • Specialized
1 9.4

A plant disease that makes black powder on grain plants like wheat

is the particular disease that replaces the flowering head in corn and sorghum
covered smut
vshead smut
  • Specialized
9.9

A disease of grain caused by a fungus that makes dark powder inside the husks

affects the flowering part and replaces it with a black spore mass
smuts
vshead smut
  • Specialized
8.9

A disease caused by a fungus that makes dark powdery spots on grain plants

is specific to certain crops where the flowering head is replaced by spores

Surface Forms

head smut singular
head smuts plural

Morphology

head + smut

The term is compositionally built: 'smut' denotes a fungal disease with black spores and 'head' specifies the affected plant part (the flowering head), so the meaning is a smut disease of the head. This locative, modifier+noun pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name head smut comes from a simple image: the plant's head (the flower or ear) is taken over by smut, a dark fungus that turns the head into a black mass of spores covered by a thin skin. So head smut literally describes this 'plant disease' on corn and sorghum.