Corn just got checked.
This looks like a corn ear that has been badly deformed and invaded by fungal growth. The gray-black mold on the ear, along with the user's note that it is moldy and deformed, fits ear rot much more than a normal ripening issue. If the ear tissue is soft, wet, or foul-smelling, this is active rot; if it is dry and papery, it is likely dead ear tissue with secondary mold colonization. In either case, the ear will not recover.
Remove the diseased ear and keep watch on nearby ears
The ear is not salvageable. Remove it to reduce mold spread and inspect the rest of the plant for similar damage.
Also possible, but less likely
What would prove it
Decide whether this is rot or smut
Check the ear texture and smell. Soft, foul-smelling tissue points to ear rot; dry, black, powdery galls point more toward smut. Either way, remove the affected ear.
Turn this into a recovery case
One photo gives a diagnosis. Tracking proves whether the plant is recovering.
Don’t leave the diagnosis hanging 🌱
Save it now, then use the next photo to confirm if this was the right call.
Create account & save plant 🌱