Ear gall development was evaluated after inoculating sweet corn (Zea m
ays L.) hybrids with Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda by injecting sporidial
suspensions into silk channels when silks had emerged almost-equal-to
3 to 6 cm from ear shoots. Gall incidence was almost-equal-to 35% in
two inoculation trials. About 0.5% of the noninoculated control plants
was infected. Gall weight increased almost-equal-to 250% to 500% betw
een 14 and 21 days after inoculation, reaching a maximum of almost-equ
al-to 280 to 600 g. Gall tissue was nearly 100% black and had lost its
spongy integrity 19 to 21 days after inoculation, when mycelial cells
formed powdery teliospores. A 1- or 2-day harvest window during which
huitlacoche yield and quality were optimized corresponded to the time
at which 60% to 80% of the gall tissue was black. The optimal huitlac
oche harvest time varied among hybrids from 17 to 19 days after inocul
ation, but we suspect that optimal harvest time varies from almost-equ
al-to 15 to 24 days after inoculation, depending on the growth stage a
t which the host is inoculated and the environmental conditions follow
ing inoculation. Differences among sweet corn hybrids in gall incidenc
e, gall size, and coverage of mature galls by husk leaves were observe
d and could be used to select sweet corn hybrids that are well suited
for producing huitlacoche.