Fitopatologia Brasileira (2003) 28, 446-448

Amauri Bogo, Peter Gregory Mantle, Mari Inês C. Boff and Cassandro V.T. do Amarante (2003)
Production of caffeine alkaloid by Claviceps sorghi
Fitopatologia Brasileira 28 (4), 446-448
Abstract: The ergot disease of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), caused by the fungus Claviceps sorghi, restricted to the Indian sub-continent, is a disease in which the pathogen infects the florets, colonizing the unfertilized ovaries. Losses are higher in hybrid seed production fields due to a higher susceptibility of male sterile lines. The sclerotia of C. sorghi have never been found to contain alkaloids with a tetracyclic ergoline ring system, which is normal in most ergot pathogens. In this work, we show that sclerotia of C. sorghi contain caffeine alkaloid and the ability to produce it in vitro.
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Database assignments for author(s): Mari Inês Carissimi Boff

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Claviceps sorghi	Sorghum (crop)