Sclerotium (Noun)
Meaning 1
Compact usually dark-colored mass of hardened mycelium constituting a vegetative food-storage body in various true fungi; detaches when mature and can give rise to new growth.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Meaning 2
Form genus of sterile imperfect fungi; many form sclerotia; some cause sclerotium disease in plants.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The fungus formed a sclerotium, a compact mass of fungal tissue, allowing it to survive the winter months.
- Sclerotium rolfsii is a plant pathogen that causes a disease known as southern blight in a wide range of crops.
- In some cases, the sclerotium of a fungus can be mistaken for a seed or small stone due to its compact and hardened structure.
- The sclerotium of certain fungi can remain dormant in the soil for years, waiting for the right conditions to germinate.
- Sclerotium delphinii is a fungal pathogen that causes a disease known as crown rot in delphinium plants, often resulting in significant losses for gardeners.