ergot

• 指一种寄生在禾本科植物（如黑麦、小麦）上的真菌（麦角菌），其菌核呈黑色角状，取代谷粒；也指由该真菌引起的植物病害。该真菌是麦角胺、麦角酸等医学上重要生物碱的来源。

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.

1. Plant disease caused by ergot fungusC2formalscientific

   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.

   麦角病

   • 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.

2. Fungus producing medicinal alkaloidsC2formalmedical

   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.

   产生药用生物碱的真菌

   • 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.