The family Tilletiaceae, in the order Ustilaginales, comprises a group of smut fungi commonly known as bunt fungi. These fungi are primarily plant pathogens that infect grasses and cereals, often causing significant agricultural losses. Members of Tilletiaceae produce thick-walled spores, which are typically dispersed by wind or water, and their life cycles often involve both sexual and asexual stages. They are characterized by their intimate association with host tissues, frequently replacing seeds or other reproductive structures with masses of fungal spores. Tilletiaceae species are ecologically and economically important due to their role in plant disease and the challenges they pose for crop management.