Ustilago is a genus of approximately 200 smut fungi, which are parasitic on grasses. 170 species are accepted by Wijayawardene et al. 2020; After phylogenetic research certain species in Ustilago, Macalpinomyces, and other genera in the Ustilaginaceae clade have been moved to other genera like Mycosarcoma.

Uses

Ustilago maydis is eaten as a traditional Mexican food in many parts of the country, and is even available canned. Farmers have even been known to spread the spores around on purpose to create more of the fungus. It is known in central Mexico by the Nahuatl name huitlacoche. Peasants in other parts of the country call it "hongo de maíz," i.e. "maize fungus." The genome of U. maydis has been sequenced in 2006.

Hosts

Some selected species and hosts; U. bullata - brome smut U. cynodontis - Bermuda grass smut U. residua - hosts on Danthonia californica U. trichophora - hosts on Echinochloa crus-galli and other Echinochloa sp. U. serpens U. brizae - hosts on Briza media