Friends who have corn fields at home may have seen some black "tumors" on their own corn, and they will fade when they touch them with their hands. Some people think it is poisonous and directly break the whole corn and throw it away, but some people pick it up and take it home as a food, saying that it is a rare treasure and sold very expensive in the market.
What is this seemingly "cancerous" thing? Can you eat it?
Corn black powder fungus
This black tumor is caused by the corn black powdery mildew fungus. Corn powdery mildew, also known as maize black powder fungus, is a fungus. After parasitizing on maize, this fungus infects all parts of the maize by invading the host's seedlings, causing maize at the panicle stage to show associated symptoms. The main symptom is that the particles of corn swell, forming tumor-like galls, and the inside is filled with black powder, which is a common disease of corn, called corn smut disease. Galls are swollen growths caused by parasites, viruses, fungi, or bacteria, similar to benign tumors in animals.
Life cycle of powdery mildew
The spores of Powdery mildew spores are nearly spherical or oval in shape, with tiny spines and a pale brown color. Although from the appearance, the fruiting body of the black powdery fungus is a bit disgusting, like mold, and seems to be poisonous. But it is not only non-toxic, but also an excellent edible mushroom, which will be eaten in many places, such as Mexico and northeast China.
Microscopic spores of powdery mildew
In Mexico, it is called corn mushroom, people in Europe and the United States will call it "Mexican black truffle", in BC there was a Mexican habit of eating corn powdery mildew mushrooms. Fresh powdery mildew mushrooms are often seen at local farmers' markets, and some are added to the tortillas. Mexicans are very good at making this mushroom into food, and are often used to make tamales, stews, soups and burritos, and are eaten raw.
Make the filling of the burrito with corn black powder mushrooms
In northeast China, the fruiting body of the black powder fungus is called Umi, which is generally used to eat sorghum black powder fungus parasitizing sorghum, and some areas will eat corn powdery mildew fungus.
In autumn, sorghum earlets are harvested and stored, which are plump with white rods, which are mixed with vegetables such as potatoes, beans, zucchini and eggplant to make stews, which are said to be very delicious. The taste of corn powdery mildew is similar to that of sorghum powdery mildew, and the method of consumption is similar.
Sorghum powdery mildew (Umi)
Powdery mildew contains a variety of mineral elements that are essential to the human body, of which the highest content is potassium, reaching 5000mg/kg. Potassium can maintain the acid-base balance in the body, maintain the normal osmotic pressure of the human body, and assist several enzyme systems in energy delivery and utilization, protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism.
Moreover, the selenium content in the corn black powdery mildew is very rich, reaching 0.23mg/kg, selenium is impossible for the human body to synthesize, must be ingested from the outside, can prevent cardiovascular disease, anti-aging, antiviral, antioxidant, regulate immunity, protect vision and so on.
Powdery mildew is also rich in protein and amino acids. Depending on the variety planted, the protein content in powdery mildew is between 10% and 14.5%. Relevant studies have shown that the corn black powdery mildew contains 8 kinds of amino acids that are essential to the human body, and the amino acid ratio is reasonable, which is in line with the ideal model of amino acid content given by who. What is even more rare is that the lysine content in the corn black powdery mildew bacteria accounts for 6.3% to 7.3% of the total protein.
In addition, the gall of powdery mildew contains 2.7% to 6.5% fatty acids, and modern nutrition has confirmed that eating more foods rich in linoleic acid in the diet can effectively reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Amino acids contained in powdery mildew
The 8 monosaccharides and 8 sugar alcohols in galls are also important bioactive substances, and these carbohydrates can help the immune system better fight cancer, hyperlipidemia and viruses.
Researchers have also found a variety of compounds with anti-cancer effects in powdery mildew, such as cinnamylphenethylamine compounds that poison leukemia cells. In previous studies, one of the tyramines was shown to treat type 2 diabetes.
In the past, farmers avoided seeing this kind of thing, because it would spread to other plants, resulting in a reduction in corn yields. People who don't know its edible value will throw away the whole corn.
Maize smut disease was discovered in the northeast of China before 1919, and the disease spread rapidly and soon spread throughout the country. Since the 1950s, maize smut disease has been the main disease of maize, and the disease is serious in the spring sowing area of northern crops, the hilly mountains in the southwest and the northwest region.
The yield of 1 tumor on a single maize plant can generally reduce yield by 30.9%, and the yield of more than 3 tumors can be reduced by 81.2%. If the disease occurs in the stem below the panicle, the average yield is reduced by 20%, the incidence of the stem below the panicle is reduced by 40%, the disease on the upper and lower stems of the fruit panicle is reduced by 60%, and the direct yield of the panicle is reduced by 80%.
It was not until 1975 that the country's annual yield was reduced by 325 million kilograms due to maize smut disease, and the disease was not controlled until the 1980s.
Therefore, for farmers who do not have the habit of eating powdery mildew, it is a headache to infect smut disease in the cornfield. The same goes for American farmers.
Once upon a time, powdery mildew caused about 10 percent of U.S. corn yields to be reduced and damaged many corn harvesting equipment. The U.S. government and farmers have invested millions of dollars in research to try to eradicate the disease, and have been developing powdery mildew-resistant corn varieties.
Since the discovery of the edible value of powdery mildew, scholars in California have also listed powdery mildew as edible mushrooms. Many restaurants that catch up with the trend also make black powder mushrooms into dishes, and Americans who dare not eat anything have also begun to change their concepts and slowly accept this food.
Sauté corn powdery mildew mushrooms
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin also found that the profit per normal corn is only a few cents, but the corn that grows powdery mildew can make a profit of 80 cents each. Therefore, the USDA began to conduct extension experiments in Florida and other states to guide farmers in the cultivation and production of corn black powdery mildew.
In China, the cultivation and production of corn black powdery mildew is still in its infancy, with the enhancement of the disease resistance of corn seeds, to eat can only rely on normal corn collection, and the number is very small, very rare. Therefore, the price of corn black powder mushrooms on the market is very expensive, and a pound can sell for 50 to 60 yuan.
Powdery mildew peeled off from a corn tree
If you want to develop edible black powder mushrooms into an industry, you can refer to the Umi industry. Because the corn powdery mildew and Umi are both galls caused by diseases caused by powdery mildew fungi, there are many common points in the way of eating and processing products. The Umi industry has been relatively mature, and there are also professional sorghum umi planting cooperatives in the northeast region, specializing in the production of fresh Umi. Umi can also be processed into snack foods, beverages, condiments, etc.
Although corn powdery mildew is a disease, as long as it can be used rationally, it can turn waste into treasure, which can not only reduce farmers' losses, but even have the opportunity to increase farmers' income. If the edible corn black powder mushroom is popularized on a large scale in China and drives related industries, the economic benefits brought by it will be even more immeasurable.