Chapter Ten
Hungry Planet: Stories of Plant Diseases

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Ergot
C10.1. Ergot on rye.	C10.2. Close-up view of stromata from germinated sclerotium (ergot). Ascospores are forcibly discharged from the heads of these structures and may be trapped in rye flowers.

C10.3. Honeydew and developing sclerotia (ergots).	C10.4. Endophyte mycelium (stained blue) of an ergot-related fungus in a grass blade. Grazing animals may be poisoned by these fungi (light micrograph).

Disease cycle of ergot of grains caused by Claviceps purpurea.


Aspergillus species and aflatoxin
C10.5. Aspergillus ear rot of corn.
C10.5. Aspergillus ear rot of corn.
Fusarium head blight (scab)
C10.6. Fusarium head blight (scab) in wheat. Infected grains are likely to contain vomitoxin (DON).	C10.7. Major outbreaks of Fusarium head blight (red) on wheat and barley in the United States from 1991 through 1996.

Corn smut caused by Ustilago maydis
C10.8. Galls of common smut, caused by Ustilago maydis, on a corn stalk.	C10.9. A, cans of cuitlacoche processed and sold in Mexico. B, a growing market for cuitlacoche among English-speaking consumers is evident from recent label changes which include identification of the fungus as "maize mushrooms."
C10.10. Fresh or frozen cuitlacoche occasionally is available at farmer's markets or from local suppliers in the United States. A, a crate of fresh cuitlacoche soon after harvest. B, galls of Ustilago maydis removed from the ear and ready for sale as cuitlacoche. C, frozen cuitlacoche may sell for as much as $18 a pound. when it is available.


*Stinking smut (bunt) (Tilletia* species)**
C10.11. Masses of sporesfrom bunted wheat kernels with stinking smut.	C10.12. Cloud of smut spores during wheat harvest.

Gray mold, the "noble rot," caused by Botrytis cinerea
C10.13. Conidia and conidiophores of Botrytis cinerea. The conidiophores raises the conidia above the surface of the infected plant, plant debris, or soil to aid in air dispersal (light micrograph).	C10.14. Strawberries that have rotted after harvest as a result of gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea.

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Chapter TenHungry Planet: Stories of Plant DiseasesImage Gallery

Chapter Ten
Hungry Planet: Stories of Plant Diseases

Image Gallery