Which fungi are primarily responsible for smuts in various crops?

The fungi primarily responsible for smuts in various crops are Ustilago and Tilletia. These genera are known for causing significant agricultural damage through their role in diseases commonly referred to as smut.

Ustilago species, for example, are notorious for infecting cereals and grasses, leading to the formation of dark, powdery spores, which replace the host plant's tissues, particularly in the flowers and kernels. This not only affects crop yield but also impacts the quality of the harvested grain. Similarly, Tilletia fungi are known for causing loose smut in wheat and other grasses, where the infested flowers produce masses of black spores that can spread easily to other plants.

Other choices include fungi that are not primarily associated with smut diseases. Aspergillus and Penicillium, for example, are largely known for their roles in spoilage and mycotoxin production, rather than smut. Botrytis and Alternaria are associated with gray mold and various fruit and leaf diseases, while Chrysosporium and Mucor are primarily saprophytic and associated with decomposing organic matter, not with the specific smut diseases in crops. Thus, Ustilago and Tilletia distinctly belong to the category of fungi causing