• Initial symptom of the infection is the sphacelium (indicated by the arrow), which replaces the seed
• Sphacelium is white and swollen
• Sphacelium produces honey dew and spores

• Spore settle to the bottom of a honeydew droplet (see left)
• Honeydew drips onto surrounding plant parts and soil and serves as source of conidia to spread the pathogen
• Honeydew is white, when dry (see right).

• Under moist , humid weather conditions, honeydew is more abundantly produced. (see left) and secondary conidia are produced on the honeydew
• Secondary condia give crop a bright, white appearance. (see right)

Sclerotia, survival structures formed from sphacelia.

Often appearing with ergot is the saprophytiuc fungus, Cerebella sp., which is black and spherical and has convulutions.

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