''Thecaphora solani'', potato smut, is a

fungal A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

plant pathogen Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...

. It affects plants, primarily potatoes, in the Andean part of South America. The disease of potatoes that it causes is economically important (there have been reports of crop losses up to 80 percent in South America).Cannon & Kirk (2007) ''Fungal Families of the World'', p. 139

References

External links

Index Fungorum

USDA ARS Fungal Database

Information
Fungal plant pathogens and diseases Fungi of South America Ustilaginomycotina Fungi described in 1944 {{Ustilaginomycotina-stub