ABSTRACT
The spores of ergot are carried by insects or the wind to the ovaries of young rye, where they germinate into hyphal filaments. The filaments secrete an enzyme that enables the fungus to penetrate the basal portions of the ovary. The decomposition product resulting from this enzymatic action is a yellow mucoid material called honeydew, which at one time was erroneously thought to be the active substance of ergot. The
honeydew
attracts insects, and in this way the fungus is further disseminated. As the hyphal filaments penetrate deep into the ovary of the rye, a dense tissue forms. This tissue gradually consumes the entire substance of the grain and hardens into a purple, curved body called the sclerotium. This
sclerotium
is the commercial source of ergot. It is either picked by hand or separated from the grain by a special threshing process (Figure 30.1).
