Disease symptom formation arises from complex interactions between a pathogen and its host. In sugarcane smut disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, the whip-shaped sorus—comprising intertwined fungal and plant tissues originating from the primary meristems of infected plants—is the most conspicuous symptom and a major cause of yield loss. Despite its agronomic significance, regulatory mechanisms underlying sorus development and teliospore formation remain poorly understood. This study inves