Research progress on Claviceps fungus

Claviceps is a genus of ergot fungus. The ergot alkaloid toxins produced by Claviceps, on the one hand, are highly toxic to humans and livestock. On the other hand, ergot alkaloids have many biological activities and have been widely used in medicine. This paper reviews the recent research progress on ergots in detail, both locally and abroad. Claviceps originated in South America during the Upper Cretaceous period and was mainly transported by insects to new areas or new hosts. The distribution of Claviceps is now divided into six regions globally: Africa, South America, Eurasia, North America, Australia, and India. The ergots can infect more than 400 gramineous plants of more than 70 genera in 7 families or subfamilies. The ergots are mainly parasitic on grain crops and the ears of grasses; consequently, livestock are easily poisoned by ingesting the infected grains. There have been countless ergot poisoning incidents throughout history. There are the following primary methods to control ergot disease outbreaks: the selection of disease-resistant varieties with short flowering periods, spraying of fungicides during flowering, and timely harvesting of sclerotia to reduce the source of initial infection. The ergot alkaloids produced by Claviceps have been widely used in medicine. They are mainly used for the treatment of migraines, postpartum hemorrhage, breast disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular insufficiency, and cancer. At present, the focus of international research includes the genetic evolution of ergots, the medical application of ergot alkaloids, the creation and cultivation of ergot-resistant pasture varieties that have not yet been studied, screening of high-yield alkaline strains, and the study of the interaction between endophytic fungi and ergots.