ergot

A noun referring to a fungus that infects cereal plants, forming black masses that replace grains, and is the source of medicinally important alkaloids and lysergic acid; also the plant disease caused by this fungus.

• 🇪🇸Sustantivo que designa un hongo que infecta los cereales y otras gramíneas, formando masas negras que sustituyen a los granos, y que es fuente de alcaloides y ácido lisérgico de importancia médica; también se refiere a la enfermedad de las plantas causada por este hongo.

1. Plant disease caused by ergot fungus C2 formal scientific

   A disease affecting cereal plants such as rye, caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, characterized by the development of dark, hard sclerotia in place of normal grains.

   • The farmers had to discard the entire harvest due to an outbreak of ergot.
   • Ergot can lead to significant crop loss if not detected early.
   • Historical records show that ergot poisoning was common in medieval Europe.

   🇪🇸Cornezuelo del centeno

2. Fungus producing medicinal alkaloids C2 formal medical

   The fungus Claviceps purpurea that infects cereal plants and produces hard, black masses of mycelium; a source of alkaloids used in medicine, such as ergotamine and lysergic acid, which are precursors to some pharmaceuticals.

   • Ergot alkaloids are used to treat migraines and induce uterine contractions.
   • The isolation of lysergic acid from ergot led to the development of important drugs.
   • Researchers are studying the chemical properties of ergot for new therapeutic applications.

   🇪🇸Cornezuelo del centeno

• ergots plural form
• ergots' possessive plural form
• ergot's possessive singular form