![]() Later, the sphacelia convert into a hard dry sclerotium inside the husk of the floret. ![]() This honeydew contains millions of asexual spores ( conidia), which insects disperse to other florets. The first stage of ergot infection manifests itself as a white soft tissue (known as sphacelia) producing sugary honeydew, which often drops out of the infected grass florets. The proliferating fungal mycelium then destroys the plant ovary and connects with the vascular bundle originally intended for seed nutrition. Infection requires that the fungal spore have access to the stigma consequently, plants infected by Claviceps are mainly outcrossing species with open flowers, such as rye ( Secale cereale) and ryegrasses (genus Lolium). The infection process mimics a pollen grain growing into an ovary during fertilization. 4.3 Speculated cause of hysterics and hallucinationsĪn ergot kernel, called a sclerotium, develops when a spore of fungal species of the genus Claviceps infects a floret of flowering grass or cereal.4.2 Usage in gynaecology and obstetrics.4.1 Saint Anthony's fire and the Antonites.3 Effects on humans, other mammals and LSD.spartinae) - salt marsh grasses ( Spartina, Distichlis). G2 - grasses from moist, forest, and mountain habitats.G1 - land grasses of open meadows and fields.purpurea has at least three races or varieties, which differ in their host specificity: purpurea most commonly affects outcrossing species such as rye (its most common host), as well as triticale, wheat, and barley. fusiformis (on pearl millet, buffel grass), C. purpurea (parasitic on grasses and cereals), C. Economically significant species include C. Ĭlaviceps includes about 50 known species, mostly in the tropical regions. This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its fruiting structure (called ergot sclerotium). The most prominent member of this group is Claviceps purpurea ("rye ergot fungus"). For the part of a horse's hoof, see Ergot (horse anatomy).Įrgot ( / ˈ ɜːr ɡ ə t/ UR-gət) or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi of the genus Claviceps.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |