How does smut infect plants?
Smut enters the plant through germinating buds (plant or ratoon) in the soil buds on standing cane. In buds on standing cane the fungus will remain dormant unless the bud swells. Once in the plant the fungus grows along with the growing point. The fungus releases hormones which induce the plant to produce the whip structure and the fungal spores form within the whip. All plants from infected cane will be infected.
