Gibberella zeae

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/gibberella-zeae

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Gibberella zeae
2. What is the anamorph name?Fusarium graminearum
3. Why does Gibberella zeae hurt wheat and barley?It causes a disease called Fusarium head blight, which makes the grain heads look blighted, shrivels the kernels, and can lower the amount and quality of the crop.
4. How does Gibberella zeae spread from one field to another?The fungus spreads by tiny spores that fly in the wind, so it can travel long distances and infect new plants.

Plant pathogen: An organism that causes disease in plants, leading to reduced growth, yield, or quality.
Anamorph: The asexual reproductive stage of a fungus, often the form that is most commonly observed or studied.
Mycotoxin: A toxic secondary metabolite produced by certain fungi that can cause adverse health effects in humans and animals.
Protein biosynthesis: The cellular process by which cells build proteins, essential for all life functions.