The plants produce a whip like black shoot, often very long and much curved on itself in smut of sugarcane is caused by pathogen

The plants produce a whip-like black shoot, often very long and much curved on itself in smut of sugarcane caused by the pathogen Ustilago scitaminea.
Production of whip-like structure (25 - 150 cm) from the growing point of the canes. Whip covered by translucent silvery membrane enclosing a mass of black powdery spores. Initial thin canes with elongated internodes later become reduced in length. Profuse sprouting of lateral buds with narrow, erect leaves especially in the ratoon crop.