Crude extracts of various Agapanthus africanus plant parts were screened in vitro against eight economically important plant pathogenic fungi. Radial mycelial growth was inhibited significantly (Po0.05) in five test organisms, while Pythium ultimum, and to a lesser extent Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata, showed a degree of tolerance. Subsequently, these crude extracts were tested in...

Claviceps sorghi is a pathogen of Sorghum bicolor found only in India and Southeast Asia. The more widespread C. africana is predominant even in India; C. sorghi appears to be marginalized in its restricted range. A significant difference in invasiveness is the relative production of inoculum that spreads plant-to-plant. Claviceps sorghi produces few to no secondary conidia from macroconidia on...

Sorghum ergot in India is caused by Claviceps africana and C. sorghi. The distributions of these two species in India is not known. Eighty-nine sorghum ergot isolates were cultured from young sphacelia obtained from male sterile sorghum plants artificially inoculated using inoculum collected in the field. Based on cultural characteristics, the isolates were separated into two groups which diffe...

Morphological characters within the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex are defined explicitly. The genera Sporisorium and Anthracocystis are emended to reflect morphological synapomorphies. Three new genera, Langdonia, Stollia and Triodiomyces are described based on soral synapomorphies and host classification. The new classification of the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex i...

Five smut fungi viz. Microbotryum scorzonerae on Scorzonera caliculata, Sporisorium aristidae-lanuginosae on Stipagrostisplumosa, Sporisorium desertorum on Lasiurus sindicus, Sporisorium foveolati on Dichanthium foveolatum,and Sporisorium vanderystii on Hyparrhenia hirta are reported for the first time for Iranian mycobiota. Sporisorium foveolati is also probably new to Asia. Bellevalia saviczi...

Sugar cane smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) interactions have been traditionally considered from the plant’s point of view: How can resistant sugar plants defend themselves against disease? Resistant induce several defensive mechanisms that oppose fungal attacks. Herein, an overall view Sporisorium scitamineum’s infection and defense are presented. Quorum sensing effects a continuous reorganizati...