Fusaria

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of fungi that includes important plant pathogens affecting crops and other plant species
2. A type of mold known for its role in causing diseases in plants, particularly in grains and legumes
3. Organisms classified within a group of fungi that can produce toxic compounds and affect agricultural productivity

Etymology: "Fusaria" is the plural of "fusarium," the name of a genus of fungi. The genus name was built from Latin "fusus," meaning "spindle," because the fungus produces slender, spindle-shaped spores (macroconidia) that are curved and tapered at both ends. The name was coined in scientific Latin as a translingual taxonomic label, so it belongs to the vocabulary of botany rather than to any everyday word that English speakers inherited. The fungus's name describes its appearance under the microscope, not its effect on crops. Many species in the genus cause wilts, rots and blights in cereals, beans, potatoes and other plants, which is why the name is now best known in agriculture. The shared Latin root links it to a common image: the spindle used in spinning thread, which tapers in the same way as the spores.

Synonyms: fusarium