A fungal disease of rye caused by Claviceps purpurea, characterized by the replacement of grain in the ear with hard sclerotia. The infection manifests during flowering as the secretion of a sweet exudate, followed by the formation of dark ergot bodies protruding from the glumes.
In the reference
97
varieties
crop Rye,
where this is mentioned in the description.
The pathogen is the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which has an ascomycete stage of development and a conidial stage known as Sphacelia segetum. During the flowering period, a sticky liquid containing conidia is secreted from the infected florets, facilitating the further spread of the pathogen by insects.
Instead of normal grain, large, dark purple or black sclerotia form in the rye ear, which can reach 3–5 cm in length. The affected parts of the ear become sterile. Resistance genes to this disease in rye have not yet been identified, and breeding efforts are focused on reducing susceptibility and the accumulation of ergot alkaloids.
General information about the subject — on the page
Ergot.
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.