ERGOT OF GRAINS AND GRASSES Ergot is best known as a disease of rye but it also affects most other grains and grasses. The casual fungus, Clavisceps purpurea infects the flowers, prevents seeds from developing, and replaces many kernels with hard, seed-like fungus bodies called sclerotia. The disease causes losses in the following ways. When marketed, grain or seed shipmen... more »ts containing more than a certain concentration of ergot sclerotia are downgraded or rejected. Ergot sclerotia in forage grasses, feed, or flour may cause a debilitating and sometimes fatal poisoning of animals, poultry, and humans. Yield is reduced because ergot-affected heads produce fewer kernels than healthy ones. Includes B+W photos.« less