Kingdom Fungi Order Tilletiales Scientific name Tilletia | Phylum Basidiomycota Family Tilletiaceae Higher classification Tilletiaceae | |
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Lower classifications Tilletia caries, Karnal bunt | ||
Tilletia is a genus of smut fungi in the Tilletiaceae family. Species in this genus are plant pathogens that affect various grasses. Tilletia indica, which causes Karnal bunt of wheat, and Tilletia horrida, responsible for rice kernel smut, are examples of species that affect economically important crops.
The widespread genus contain about 175 species.
The genus was named after French agronomist Mathieu Tillet (1714-1791).
Ballistospore discharge in the stinking smut fungus tilletia
References
Tilletia Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA