Ergot

Sclerotium

Ergot (sclerotia) on rye. Ergot replaces grain of rye.

​Sclerotium germinates to form stalks with asci. Sperical apical asci forms ascospores

Life Cycle of Ergot Fungi

​Ascospores, after setting onto stigma of flower, germinates and invaded overy. Inside overy in sphacelial stage conidia are formed and gets suspended into honeydew. Honeydew helps in secondary infection of other flwering plants through various means. Eventually, seed is replaced by sclerotium tha falls off and germinates to release ascospores.