- Rhizoctonia leguminicola
Taxobox
name = "Rhizoctonia leguminicola"
regnum =Fungi
phylum =Basidiomycota
classis =Basidiomycetes
subclassis =Incertae sedis
ordo =Corticiales
familia =Corticiaceae
genus = "Rhizoctonia "'
species = "R. leguminicola"
binomial = "Rhizoctonia leguminicola"
binomial_authority = Gough & E.S. Elliott, (1956)Rhizoctonia leguminicola is a plant pathogen that most often attaches itself to the
Trifolium pratense or red clover. The fungus, also called Black Patch Disease, begins as small black patches on the leaves of red clover (often on the bottom of the leaves first) and spreads to cover the entire plant, killing it. Thehyphae of this fungus is white and web-like in appearance, just like those of other fungi. The consumption of the fungus can be harmful to any grazing animals, especially tohorses andcows .Effects of consumption
If Rhizoctonia leguminicola is consumed excessively by horses or cattle, the most noticeable symptom will be an increase in
salivation . Other symptoms include "eye discharge,bloat , frequent urination, watery diarrhea, reduced milk production, weight loss and abortion." [http://www.shagbarkridge.com/info/slobber.html] Granted, the consumption must be exorbitant to cause these symptoms of such large animals, but if the pasture consists mainly of clover, and the hay also contains clover, the danger of more serious symptoms rises.References
External links
* [http://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/Names.asp Index Fungorum]
* [http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases USDA ARS Fungal Database]
* [http://www.shagbarkridge.com/info/slobber.html Description of Black Patch Disease]
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