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Glite Dictionary
Sphacelotheca reiliana

Sphacelotheca reiliana

9.9
A fungus that infects corn or sorghum heads and makes dark powdery spores
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sphacelotheca reiliana
  • The covered smut caused by Sphacelotheca reiliana can be identified by its characteristic spore masses.

Examples

  • Scientists are developing resistant corn varieties to combat Sphacelotheca reiliana infections.

  • The Sphacelotheca reiliana fungus can severely affect corn yields.

  • Sphacelotheca reiliana is a major pathogen in many sorghum-growing regions, reducing crop yield.

  • Farmers must be vigilant for Sphacelotheca reiliana in their fields.

  • Sphacelotheca reiliana is a smut fungus that significantly reduces crop yields in infected sorghum heads.

  • Farmers have reported significant losses due to Sphacelotheca reiliana infecting their corn crops.

  • Researchers are studying the effects of Sphacelotheca reiliana on cereal crops to develop effective treatments.

Surface Forms

Sphacelotheca reiliana singular
Sphacelothecae reilianae plural

Morphology

Sphacelotheca + reiliana

This is a Latin binomial (a taxonomic name). Knowing 'Sphacelotheca' (a genus of fungi that cause diseases in grasses) lets a learner infer this is a species of that fungus and therefore likely a pathogenic fungus on cereals, but the species epithet 'reiliana' is a proper-name element with no independent English meaning and the precise disease details require specialist knowledge.

Etymology

Sphacelotheca reiliana is the name of a 'fungus' that grows inside the head of corn or sorghum and fills the grain with dark spore lumps, making the ear look like it is covered in little sacks. That's why the name is used for the 'covered smut' disease, meaning the crop heads are covered and damaged by these spore masses.