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A Case Study of the Aetiology of Ergot Disease of Cereals and Grasses
Author(s) -
MANTLE P. G.,
SHAW S.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3059.1977.tb01041.x
Subject(s) - biology , dactylis glomerata , lolium perenne , claviceps purpurea , agronomy , weed , poaceae , poa pratensis , cynodon dactylon , botany
SUMMARY The distribution and sequence of infection of grass and cereal hosts of ergot ( Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) TuL) was observed during 1972–73 at a farm locality in Oxfordshire. Analysis of the alkaloid content of ergot sclerotia formed on these hosts indicated the presence of at least four distinct strains of the fungus which exhibited some host restriction. Strains parasitizing Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus and Arrhenatherum elatius were, both on the evidence of the timing of natural infections and their sclerotial alkaloid content, of little importance in the aetiology of ergot disease of cereals. The qualitative spectrum of the major alkaloids was common to ergots collected from Alopecurus myosuroides, A. pratensis , wheat and barley. This supports the view that A. pratensis as a spring‐flowering grass, and A. myosuroides as an early‐flowering weed grass in cereal crops, may have important roles in the aetiology of ergot disease of cereals.