Ergot of cereals
- Pronunciation
- /UR-gut uv SEER-ee-ulz/
- Category
- Disease Ecology
- Singular
- Ergot of cereals
Definition
A of cereal grasses caused by ascomycete fungi in the Claviceps, characterized by the replacement of developing grains with dark, hardened sclerotia containing potent indole alkaloids. The sclerotia, historically called ergots, are the stage and source of ; they contaminate grain harvests and pose serious toxicological risks to humans and livestock (ergotism). In entomology, ergot intersects with insect : some insects conidia, while others are repelled or intoxicated by ergot alkaloids that the fungus produces to defend its resource. The alkaloids can also cascade through , affecting insect herbivores, , and associated with infected grasslands.
Etymology
From French 'argot' (spur, referring to the sclerotium's shape resembling a rooster's spur), with 'of cereals' specifying the group.
Example
and other visiting ergot-infected rye may inadvertently transport conidia, but nectar containing ergovaline and related alkaloids can reduce pollinator visitation rates and alter floral constancy, indirectly affecting plant reproductive and insect structure in agricultural landscapes.
Synonyms
- Claviceps purpurea s.l. (when referring to the principal species)
- ergotism (for the toxic condition, distinct)
- sclerotium of Claviceps (technical, anatomical)
Related Terms
- mycotoxin
- alkaloid
- sclerotium
- Vector
- endophyte
- entomopathogenic fungus
- agroecosystem
- Food web
- toxic nectar
- plant-insect interaction
Usage Notes
Not a single but a ; Claviceps purpurea sensu lato is the classic agent on rye and wheat, while C. africana and others attack sorghum. The term 'ergot' alone can refer to the sclerotium, the , or the alkaloid mixture—context determines meaning. In entomological literature, ergot alkaloids are increasingly studied for their effects on insect , development, and susceptibility to entomopathogens, not merely as vertebrate toxins.