sooty mold

noun

|Updated on: 28 May 2018

Definition of sooty mold

: a dark growth of fungus mycelium growing in insect honeydew on plants; also : any of various ascomycetous fungi (order Dothideales) producing such growth

Recent Examples of sooty mold from the Web

Often, the infestations are accompanied by sooty mold a black coating on the leaves.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Talking St. Augustine lawns, from seeds to fertilizer," 12 May 2018
Aphids suck plant sap, causing foliage to distort and leaves to drop; honeydew excreted on leaves supports sooty mold growth; and feeding spreads viral diseases.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "10 Most Destructive Garden Insects And How To Get Rid Of Them," 3 June 2016
The sooty mold is not attacking or hurting the yew.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to treat aphids on ornamental plants," 10 Mar. 2018
This energy rich food source provides an opportunity for fungi called sooty mold to grow on the honeydew.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to treat aphids on ornamental plants," 10 Mar. 2018
The honeydew also becomes a great host for the development of black sooty mold (a fungus).

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "What’s bugging his tree?," 22 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sooty mold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.