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Questions and Answers
What is the primary organism responsible for ergot disease in crops?
What are the hard horn-shaped structures that replace grains in plants affected by ergot disease called?
Which of the following symptoms is NOT associated with ergot disease?
What is one method of controlling ergot disease in crops?
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What are the primary effects of ergotism on humans when ingested?
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Study Notes
Ergot of Rye
- Causal organism: Claviceps purpurea
- Host: Rye and other cereals including wheat, oat, and barley
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Symptoms:
- The disease manifests in the inflorescence (ear).
- Ovaries are replaced with fungal mycelia.
- Grains are replaced by hard, horn-shaped, purplish sclerotia called "ergot".
- Ergot protrudes between the glumes and the spikelet as dark spurs on the spike.
- Claviceps purpurea's mycelium colonizes the delicate tissues of the flower ovaries, leading to significant cellular destruction, which ultimately diminishes the overall yield and quality of the cereal crops affected.
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Disease cycle:
- The disease spreads through the air.
- Ergot sclerotia fall on the ground and germinate, producing numerous stomata with globose heads.
- Perithecia develop in the heads, containing asci with ascospores.
- Ascospores germinate on host flowers, penetrating the ovary.
- Mycelia produce conidiosphores and conidia, amplifying disease spread.
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Importance of the Disease:
- Ergot sclerotia contain various alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and animals.
- Ergotism symptoms include convulsions, paralysis, hallucinations, and death.
- Ergot has traditional uses in midwifery to aid delivery.
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Control:
- Use only sclerotia-free grains for sowing.
- Implement crop rotation practices.
- Cultivate resistant varieties with short flowering periods.
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Description
This quiz explores the disease ergot of rye, caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. It covers symptoms, host-parasite relationships, and the disease cycle, highlighting the impact on cereal crops like rye, wheat, and barley. Test your knowledge about this significant plant pathology topic.
