The fungus transmitted through infected seed setts and can also survive through the spores fallen on the ground.
Symptoms 

• The initial symptoms are profuse sprouting of the lateral buds, with small and narrow leaves. The diseased canes become thin, slender and dwarf.
• The characteristics symptom of the disease is the production of black whip like structures from the top portion of the stalk.
• The whip is covered with a translucent silvery membrane enclosing black powdery mass of spores. Plants and reduction in length and girth of such affected plants may be observed. The buds and root eyes are suppressed of 6-8 nodes below the whip were also observed.

               Smut