also: くろぼ
A fungal disease of cereal plants, characterized by black, powdery spore masses on the ears.
This year's barley was hit by smut disease.
Standard kanji spelling for the plant disease smut.
Alternate reading くろぼ; less common than くろほ.
Compound of 黒 (kuro, 'black') and 穂 (ho, 'ear of grain'), referring to the blackened ears caused by the fungus.