Final answer:
Ergot disease is caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea and affects rye and related grains. The disease cycle involves infection, toxin production, and the spread of spores to new plants. It can cause gangrenous and convulsive ergotism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ergot disease is caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea and affects rye and related grains. The disease cycle of ergot rye involves several steps. First, the fungus infects the rye plant and produces a mycotoxin called ergot toxin. This toxin can cause two forms of ergotism: gangrenous and convulsive. In gangrenous ergotism, the toxin constricts blood vessels and leads to gangrene, while in convulsive ergotism, it affects the central nervous system and causes mania and hallucinations. The fungus produces teliospores, which can survive winter and complete the life cycle by infecting new plants. Another stage of the cycle involves the production of uridospores, which spread the fungus to other wheat plants, facilitating disease spread.
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