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.

• 🇫🇷Substantif désignant un champignon qui parasite les céréales et forme des masses noires remplaçant les grains, source d'alcaloïdes et d'acide lysergique importants en médecine ; également la maladie des plantes causée par ce champignon.

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.

   🇫🇷Ergot (maladie des céréales)

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.

   🇫🇷Ergot de seigle

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