Updating UK management guidelines for ergot (a review)

Ergot is a fungal pathogen (Claviceps purpurea) that infects major UK cereals: wheat, barley, rye, triticale and occasionally oats. It also affects many grass weeds.

Following infection, ovaries develop ergots (dark sclerotia) in place of grains or seeds. Although it does not particularly affect yield, ergots produce alkaloids that are highly toxic when ingested by humans and livestock.

Currently, GB has contractual limits for ergot by weight for feed grain and zero tolerance for all other grain. At the start of 2022, the EU introduced stricter levels for specific cereals and products traded in the EU, which included limits for ergot alkaloids for the first time.

As alkaloids can be detected in grain with no visible ergot symptoms, they provide a much tougher test for grain quality.

UK ergot alkaloid data has been captured by the AHDB contaminants monitoring project for several years. In most years, levels are low. However, spikes are detected in some years and in some products.

Ergot is associated with wetter growing seasons and poor crop growth. Bare patches in fields often increase grass-weed pressures and, consequently, ergot levels. Black-grass is particularly problematic.

The movement towards more field margins (with ergot-susceptible species), the adoption of reduced tillage and general increases in grass-weed pressures mean it is getting harder to manage ergot effectively, particularly when conditions are conducive to infection and development (such as seen in the 2023/24 growing season).

Chaired by UK Flour Millers, the Ergot Working Group brings together researchers and stakeholders from across the grain supply chain to address the ergot challenge.

In 2024, the group requested that AHDB invested in this work to review ergot management guidance.

The work aims to improve understanding of the pathogen’s life cycle and ways to manage ergot risk in cereal crops.

The review will:

• Gather information from academic and non-academic (grey) sources
• Consult with industry stakeholders (including members of the Ergot Working Group)
• Update AHDB ergot management guidance
• Produce an ergot identification chart
• Identify knowledge gaps and areas of future research

Providing answers to your questions

This research project was funded via a levy-payer-led commissioning process.