Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-tj2md Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T16:56:09.372Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fungal parasites of grasses and cereals: their role as food or medicine, now and in the past

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Sheldon Aaronson
Sheldon Aaronson*
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing NY 11367, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

With the use of grain comes a variety of parasitic fungi – some benign, others dangerous and even toxic. Here are surveyed some of the fungi to which ancient and modern grain is subject, and some of the consequences for human populations. More specifically, several parasitic fungi, Claviceps, purpurea, C. Paspali, Ustilago maydis and U. esculenta, have infested cereal grains and grasses in ancient and recent times and may have served as a source of human foods or medicine.

Type
Papers
Information
Antiquity , Volume 63 , Issue 239 , June 1989 , pp. 247 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aaronson, S. 1988. Paspalum spp. and Claviceps paspali in ancient and modern India, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 24: 345–8.Google Scholar
Ainsworth, G.C. 1976. Introduction to the history of mycology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
De Avila, A., Welden, A.L. & Guzman, G.. 1980. Notes on the ethnomycology of Hueyapan, Morelos, Mexico, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2: 311–21.Google Scholar
Barclay, G.J. & Fairweather, A.D.. 1984. Rye and ergot in the Scottish later Bronze Age, Antiquity 58: 126.Google Scholar
Barger, G. 1931. Ergot and ergotism. London: Gurney & Jackson.Google Scholar
Berde, B. & Schild, H.O. (ed.). 1978. Ergot alkaloids and related compounds. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Bo, L. & Yun-Sun, B.. 1980. Fungi pharmacopoeia (Sinica). Oakland (CA): The Kinoko Co.Google Scholar
Bove, F.J. 1970. The story of ergot. Basel: S. Karger.Google Scholar
Boyd, W.E. 1986. Rye and ergot in the ancient history of Scotland, Antiquity 60: 45–7.Google Scholar
Brown, C.H. 1972. Huastec plant taxonomy, Katunobi 8: 74–84.Google Scholar
Bushnell, W.R. 1984. Structural and physiological alterations in susceptible host tissues, in Bushnell, & Roelfs, : 477–507.Google Scholar
Bushnell, W.R. & Roelfs, A.P.(ed.).1984. The cereal rusts I. Orlando: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Buturá, V. 1979. Enciclopedie de Etnobotanica Romaneasca. Bucuresti: Editura Stüntifica Si Enciclopedica.Google Scholar
Caballero, N.J. & Mapes, S.C.. 1985. Gathering and subsistence patterns among the P’urhepecha Indians of Mexico, Journal of Ethnology 5: 31–47.Google Scholar
Caius, J.F. 1986. The medicinal and poisonous plants of India. Jodhpur: Scientific Publishers.Google Scholar
Carefoot, G.L. & Sprott, E.R.. 1986. Famine on the wind. London: Angus & Robertson.Google Scholar
Chang, K.C. 1977. Food in Chinese culture. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Chang, K.C. 1986. The archaeology of Ancient China. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Connor, H.E. 1951. The poisonous plants of New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Bulletin no. 99.Google Scholar
Crueger, W. & Crueger, A.. 1983. Biotechnology: a textbook of industrial microbiology. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates.Google Scholar
Curtin, L.S.M. 1947. Healing herbs of the upper Rio Grande. Sante Fe (NM): Laboratory of Anthropology.Google Scholar
Duke, J.A. 1981. Medicinal plants of China 2. Algonac (MI): Reference Publications.Google Scholar
Durand-Tullou, A. 1972. Rôle des végétaux dans la vie de l’homme au temps de la civilisation traditionnelle (etude ethnobotanique sur le Cousse de Blandas, Gard), Journal d’Agriculture Tropical et Botanique Appliqué 19: 222–48.Google Scholar
Durbin, R.D. 1984. Effects of rust on plant development in relation to the translocation of inorganic and organic solutes, in Bushnell, & Roelfs, : 509–28.Google Scholar
Elmore, F.H. 1943. Ethnobotany of the Navajo. Albuquerque (NM): University of New Mexico. Monograph Series 1: 9–136.Google Scholar
Emboden, W.A. 1976. Plant hypnotics among the North American Indians, in Hand, W.D. (ed.), American folk medicine: a symposium: 159–67. Berkeley (CA): University of California Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fanchamps, A. 1978. Some compounds with hallucinogenic activity, in Berde, & Schild, : 567–614.Google Scholar
Forsyth, A.A. 1968. British poisonous plants. London: HMSO. Bulletin 161.Google Scholar
Gade, D.W. 1975. Plants, man and the land in the Vulcanota Valley of Peru. The Hague: Dr W. Junk.Google Scholar
Gilman, A.G., Goodman, L.S. & Gilman, A.. 1980. The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Gilmore, M.R. 1977. Uses of plants by the indians of the Missouri River Region. Lincoln (NE): University of Nebraska Press.Google Scholar
Gluza, I. 1984. Neolithic cereals and weeds from the locality of the Lengyel culture at Nowa Huta-Mogila near Cracow, Acta Paleobotanica 23: 123–84.Google Scholar
Griffith, R.W. 1979. Toxicity of ergot alkaloids, in Foxe, K. & Calne, D.B. (ed.), Dopaminergic ergot derivatives and motor function: 373–80. Oxford: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Griffith, R.W., Grauwder, J. Hodel, C. Leist, K.H. & Matter, B.. 1978. Toxicologic considerations, in Berde, & Schild, : 805–51.Google Scholar
Harkavy, A. (ed.). 1936. The Holy Scriptures. New York: Hebrew Publishing.Google Scholar
Hasik, A., Kovalik, V. Zábojnikova, M. Lukova, E. & Leska, O.. 1959. Pharmacodynamic properties of the principle of the corn smut (Ustilago maydis), Biologia 14: 428–32.Google Scholar
Helbaek, H. 1950. Botanical study of the stomach contents of Tolund man, Aärboger For Nordisk Old Kyndighed Og Historic: 328–41.Google Scholar
Helbaek, H. 1957. Bornholm plant economy in the first half of the first millennium AD, in Klendt-jensen, O. (ed.), Bornholm i Folkevandringstiden: 269. Copenhagen: Nat. Mus. Skr. St. Ber. II.Google Scholar
Helbaek, H. 1958. Graubeelemdens Sidste Malted, Kuml (1958): 83–116.Google Scholar
Helbaek, H. 1966. Vendeltine farming products at Eketorp on Hand, Sweden, Acta Archaeologica 217–21.Google Scholar
Hillman, G. 1986. Plant foods in ancient diet: the archaeological role of palaeofaeces in general and Lindow Man’s gut contents in particular, in Stead, et al.: 99–115.Google Scholar
Hirata, S. 1957. Studies on the phytohormone in the malformed portions of the diseased plants 3: auxin formation on the culture grown Exobasidium, Taphrinia and Ustilago spp., Annals of the Phytopathological Society of Japan 22: 153–8.Google Scholar
Holden, T.G. 1986. Preliminary report on the detailed analyses of the macroscopic remains from the gut of Lindow Man, in Stead, et al.: 116–25.Google Scholar
Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India. 1978. Delhi: Government of India, Ministry of Health.Google Scholar
Hu, Shiu-Yung. 1980. An enumeration of Chinese Materia Medica. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.Google Scholar
Hübotter, F. 1957. Chinesisch-Tibetische Pharmakeologie und Rezeptur. Ulm: Haug Verlag.Google Scholar
Irvine, F.R. 1952. Supplementary and emergency food plants of West Africa, Economic Botany 6: 23–40.Google Scholar
Keewaydinoquay, . 1978. Puhpohwee for the people. Cambridge (MA): Harvard University Botanical Museum.Google Scholar
Khory, R.N. & Katrak, N.N.. 1981. Materia medica of India and their therapeutics. Delhi: Neeraj Publishing House.Google Scholar
Kislev, M. 1982. Stem rust of wheat 3300 years old found in Israel, Science 216: 993–4.Google Scholar
Kobel, H., Brunner, R. & Brack, A.. 1962. Vergleich der Alkaloidbildung von Claviceps purpurea in parasitischer und saprophytischer kultur, Experientia 18: 140–1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kobert, R. 1889. Real-Encyclopãdie der Gesamten Pharmacie 7: 172–98.Google Scholar
Kramer, S.N. 1956. From the tablets of Sumer. Indian Hills (CO): The Falcon’s Wing Press.Google Scholar
Kurmakov, A.G. 1967. Pharmacology study of the total alkaloids of Ustilago hordei, Pharmakol. Alkcaioidov Glikozidov 1967, 168–173. (see Chemical Abstracts 70: 2226X (1969)).Google Scholar
Landsberger, B. & Jacobsen, T.. 1955. An old Babylonian charm against Mehru, Journal of Near East Studies 14: 14–21.Google Scholar
Leake, C.D. 1952. The old Egyptian medical papyri. Lawrence (KS): University of Kansas Press.Google Scholar
Li, H.L. 1966. The origin of cultivated plants in southeast Asia. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.Google Scholar
Lisboa, J.C. 1896. List of Bombay grasses and their uses. Bombay: Government Central Press.Google Scholar
Littlefield, L.J. 1981. Biology of the plant rusts. Ames (IA): Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Mantle, P.C. 1975. Industrial exploitation of ergot fungi, in Smith, J.E. & Berry, D.R. (ed.), The filamentous fungi 1: industrial mycology: 281–300. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Mapes, G. Guzman, C. & Cabellero, J.. 1981. Etnomicologia Purepecha. Sociedad Mexicana de Micologia, Mexico City A.C. Instituto de Biologia, UNAM.Google Scholar
Mikhalevskaya, O.B. 1970. Biosynthetic activity of the tissues of the stalk of corn shoots infested with Ustilago maydis, Fiziologia Biokhimia Zdorovogo Bal’nogo Rast: 427–36 (see Chemical Abstracts 74: 95611q (1971)).Google Scholar
Moir, J.C. 1955. The history and present-day use of ergot, Canadian Medical Association Journal 72 : 727–34.Google Scholar
Morton, J.F. 1977. Major medicinal plants. Springfield (OH): C.C. Thomas.Google Scholar
Nene, Y.L. & Singh, S.D.. 1975. A comprehensive review of downy mildew and ergot of pearl millet, in Williams, R.J. (ed.), Proceedings of the consultants group meetings on downy mildew and ergot: 15–53. Andhdra Pradesh, India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.Google Scholar
Needham, J. 1976. Science and civilization in China 5: chemistry and chemical technology, part III: spagyrical discovery and invention: historical survey, from cinnabar elixirs to synthetic insulin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Neuweiler, E. 1935. Nachtrage urgeschichtlicher Pflanzen, Vierteljahresschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zurich 80: 98–122.Google Scholar
Orlob, G.B. 1973. Ancient and medieval plant pathology, Pflanzenschutz-Nachrichten Bayer 26: 65–294.Google Scholar
Petho, M. 1972. Changes of free amino acid content in corn tissues infected with corn smut (Ustilago maydis) in the course of pathogenesis, Acta Phytopatholica 71: 47–55 (see Chemical Abstracts 78: 5544n (1973)).Google Scholar
Reagan, A.B. 1929. Plants used by the White Mountain Apache Indians of Arizona, Wisconsin Archaeologist 8: 143–61.Google Scholar
Robbins, W.W. Harrington, J.P. & Freire-Marreco, B.. 1916. Ethnobotany of the Tewa Indians. Washington (DC): Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 55.Google Scholar
Ruck, C.A.P. 1983. The offerings from the Hyperboreans, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 8: 177–207.Google Scholar
Rutschmann, J. & Stadler, P.A.. 1978. Chemical background: ergot alkaloids and related compounds. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Scaife, R.G. 1986. Pollen in human palaeofaeces, and a preliminary investigation of the stomach and gut contents of Lindow Man, in Stead, et al: 126–35.Google Scholar
Schmauder, H.P. 1982. Saprophytic production of ergot alkaloids, in Atal, C.K. & Kapur, B.M. (ed.), Cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants: 188–206. Jammu-Tawi, India: Council of Sceintific and Industrial Research.Google Scholar
Schultes, R.E. & Hofmann, A.. 1979. Plants of the gods. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Schultes, R.E. & Hofmann, A.. 1980. The botany and chemistry of hallucinogens. Springfield (OH): C.C. Thomas.Google Scholar
Sharp, G. 1910. Ergot: a short historical study, Pharmaceutical Journal and Pharmacist (9 July): 38–9.Google Scholar
Stadler, P.A. 1982. Neuere Ergebnisse der Mutterkorn alkaloid-Forschung, Planta Medica 46: 131–44.Google Scholar
Stadler, P.A. & Giger, R.K.A.. 1984. Ergot alkaloids and their derivatives in medicinal chemistry and therapy, in Krogsgaard-Larsen, P. et al. (ed.), Natural products and drug development: 463–83. Copenhagen: Munksgaard.Google Scholar
Standley, P.C. 1930. Flora of Yucatan. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, Publication 279. Botanical Series 3: 157–492.Google Scholar
Stead, I.M., Burke, J.B. & Brothwell, D. (ed.). 1986. Lindow Man: the body in the bog. London: British Museum Publications.Google Scholar
Stemler, A. & Falk, R.. 1980. A scanning electron microscope study of cereal grains from Nabta Playa, in Wendorf, F. & Schild, R. (ed.), Prehistory of the eastern Sahara: 393–9. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Szydlowski, J. & Wasylikawa, K.. 1973. Cereals from the early medieval fortified settlement in Lubomia district, Wodzeslaw Slaski, southern Poland, Folia Quaternaria 42: 37–93. Krakow.Google Scholar
Tantaguidgeon, G. 1972. Folk medicine of the Delaware and related Algonkian Indians. Harrisburg (PA): The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.Google Scholar
Terrell, E.E. & Batra, L.R.. 1982. Zizania latifolia and Ustilago esculenta: a grass-fungus association, Economic Botany 36: 274–85.Google Scholar
Thompson, R.C. 1949. A dictionary of Assyrian botany. London: British Academy.Google Scholar
Thrower, L. & Chan, Y-S.. 1980. Gau sun: a cultivated host parasite combination from China, Economic Botany 34: 20–6.Google Scholar
Unschuld, P.U. 1986. Medicine in China, a history of pharmaceutics. Berkeley (CA): University of California Press.Google Scholar
Vogel, V.J. 1970. American Indian medicine. Norman (OK): University of Oklahoma Press.Google Scholar
Wasson, R.G., Hofmann, A. & Ruck, A.P.. 1978. The road to Eleusis. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.Google Scholar
Webb, L.J. 1948. Guide to the medicinal and poisonous plants of Queensland. Melbourne: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Bulletin 232.Google Scholar
Wendorf, F., Schild, R. & Close, A.E.. 1980. Loaves and fishes: the prehistory of Wadi Kubbaniya. Dallas (TX): Southern Methodist University Department of Anthropology.Google Scholar
Whiting, A.F. 1939. Ethnobotany of the Hopi. Flagstaff (AZ): Museum of Northern Arizona. Bulletin no. 15.Google Scholar
Wilson, L.W. 1917. Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indian. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.Google Scholar
Winter, E. 1968. Mexico’s ancient and native remedies. Mexico D.F.: Editorial Fournier.Google Scholar
Yung-Nien, Y. 1962. Studies on the production of indole acetic acid by Ustilago esculenta P. Henn, Acta Botanica Sinica 10: 339–50.Google Scholar
Zundel, G.L. 1953. The Ustilaginales of the world. University Park (PA): Pennsylvania State College. Contribution no. 176.Google Scholar