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Ustilaginaceae

Ustilaginaceae

9.9
A family of fungi that infects grasses and grain crops
  • noun
  • /ˌjuːstɪˌlɑːdʒɪˈneɪʃiː/
  • Specialized
: Ustilaginaceae
  • Researchers are studying Ustilaginaceae to find methods of controlling smut diseases in agriculture.

Examples

  • The black, powdery spores produced by Ustilaginaceae can be seen on infected plants.

  • Certain species within the Ustilaginaceae family are responsible for damaging grain crops.

  • The Ustilaginaceae family includes several important plant pathogens.

  • Farmers often struggle with Ustilaginaceae infections in their crops.

  • Certain species within the Ustilaginaceae family are responsible for damaging grain crops.

  • The black, powdery spores produced by Ustilaginaceae can be seen on infected plants.

  • Researchers are studying Ustilaginaceae to find methods of controlling smut diseases in agriculture.

Surface Forms

Ustilaginaceae singular
Ustilaginaceas singular

Morphology

Ustilaginaceae = Ustilago (opaque) = ustilagin + aceae

Formed with the specialized Latinized taxonomic suffix '-aceae' and the genus stem; this naming convention is not productive or meaningful to average learners.

Etymology

Ustilaginaceae comes from the Latin root ustilag- meaning 'soot' or 'burnt', because these fungi produce black, powdery spores that look like soot. The ending -aceae means 'family', as in Rosaceae ('rose' family), so Ustilaginaceae is the smut or 'soot' family of fungi that affect grasses and cereal crops.