Ergot Essay examples -- Botany

ErgotErgot (Claviceps purpurea Tul.) is a condemnable substanceous fungus that is hazardous to animals and humans. It appears to be a underage, hard, dim, elongated structure that grows on and contaminants grains, which is called scelrotium. The way tends to look like mold. When eaten in quantity or small amounts everyplace a period of clip it can be exceedingly toxic. Furthermore, it is a major problem for humans in North the States moreover even more severe for animals. Humans atomic number 18 open to universe contaminated with this poisonous fungus because ergot can grow on mushrooms, rye, wheat, and barley. These ar products that humans ingest everyday. Ergot is the most notorious poison because it includes some(prenominal) species of ascomycete fungi with complex life cycles that parasitize the grains of various polite and barbaric grasses. Therefore, it is necessary to check for ergot contamination, especially if they are home-grown grains.The pestiferous or sp reading phase of the ergot fungus occurs at the same time the grasses are in flower. Fungal spores infect the ovaries of the mature flower of the soldiery plant. These cave in mycelia (fine threadlike filaments). At this initial infection an excretion of winter melon vine (moist, inept secretion) stage, develops and the mycelia continue to grow within the ovaries of the host and become sclerotia (fruiting bodies). A genus Sclerotium appears as a cylindrical, three sided body, slightly curved, hornlike, hard, grooved on champion or both sides, dark purple next to black that is 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches long and 1/8 to 1/4 inches wide. There is a very ungrateful scent (odor), which is somewhat fishy. The developed sclerotia finally falls to the ground to tear in the summer at once or may reside until after the winter and germinate the ... ...y resulting in poisoning of animals by plants, in this instance has the opposite effect. It allows pasture grasses to develop an inflorescen ce and become potentially wild (86-87).REFERENCESFuller, doubting Thomas, and Elizabeth McClintock (1986). Poisonous Plants of California. Berkley, LA University of California Press. p. 15-20.Kingsbury, John M. (1964a). Poisonous plants of the fall in Canada States and. Englewood Cliffs, sunrise(prenominal) Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. p. 79-86.Kingsbury, John M. (1968b). Harvest. New York, Chicago, San Francisco Holt Rinehart and Winston. P. 34-37.Morton, Julia F.D.Sc. (1977). Major Medicinal Plants Botany, Culture, and Uses. USA, capital of Illinois Charles C. Thomas Publisher. P. 4-9.Szezawinski, Adam PhD, and Nancy J. Turner. (1991). Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America. Portland, Oregon shade Press. p. 64-66. Ergot Essay examples -- BotanyErgotErgot (Claviceps purpurea Tul.) is a poisonous fungus that is hazardous to animals and humans. It appears to be a small, hard, black, elongated structure that grows on and contaminants grains, which is called scelrotium. The appearance tends to look like mold. When eaten in quantity or small amounts over a period of time it can be highly toxic. Furthermore, it is a major problem for humans in North America but even more severe for animals. Humans are susceptible to being contaminated with this poisonous fungus because ergot can grow on mushrooms, rye, wheat, and barley. These are products that humans ingest everyday. Ergot is the most notorious poison because it includes several species of ascomycete fungi with complex life cycles that parasitize the grains of various cultivated and wild grasses. Therefore, it is necessary to check for ergot contamination, especially if they are home-grown grains.The epidemic or spreading phase of the ergot fungus occurs at the same time the grasses are in flower. Fungal spores infect the ovaries of the mature flower of the host plant. These develop mycelia (fine threadlike filaments). At this initial infection an excretion of honeydew (moist, sti cky secretion) stage, develops and the mycelia continue to grow within the ovaries of the host and become sclerotia (fruiting bodies). A sclerotium appears as a cylindrical, three sided body, slightly curved, hornlike, hard, grooved on one or both sides, dark purple next to black that is 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches long and 1/8 to 1/4 inches wide. There is a very unpleasant aroma (odor), which is somewhat fishy. The developed sclerotia finally falls to the ground to germinate in the summer at once or may wait until after the winter and germinate the ... ...y resulting in poisoning of animals by plants, in this instance has the opposite effect. It allows pasture grasses to develop an inflorescence and become potentially dangerous (86-87).REFERENCESFuller, Thomas, and Elizabeth McClintock (1986). Poisonous Plants of California. Berkley, LA University of California Press. p. 15-20.Kingsbury, John M. (1964a). Poisonous plants of the United Canada States and. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Prenti ce-Hall, Inc. p. 79-86.Kingsbury, John M. (1968b). Harvest. New York, Chicago, San Francisco Holt Rinehart and Winston. P. 34-37.Morton, Julia F.D.Sc. (1977). Major Medicinal Plants Botany, Culture, and Uses. USA, Springfield Charles C. Thomas Publisher. P. 4-9.Szezawinski, Adam PhD, and Nancy J. Turner. (1991). Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America. Portland, Oregon Timber Press. p. 64-66.