ascochyta
|as-co-chy-ta|
/ˌæsəˈkaɪtə/
sac-like fungus
Etymology
'ascochyta' originates from New Latin (modern scientific coinage), specifically formed from Greek roots: 'áskos' meaning 'sac, bag' and 'kýtos' meaning 'container, cell'.
'ascochyta' was coined in modern mycological taxonomy (19th–20th century) as a genus name combining Greek elements and has been used in botanical and plant pathology literature as the formal name of the genus.
Initially a descriptive compound meaning 'sac-like (cell) thing' referring to microscopic sac or cell structures; it evolved to denote the specific genus of plant-pathogenic fungi and, by extension, the disease they cause.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of filamentous fungi (order Pleosporales) that includes plant-pathogenic species causing leaf spots and blights on legumes and other crops.
Ascochyta species are responsible for Ascochyta blight in chickpea and lentil crops.
Noun 2
(By extension) The disease (Ascochyta blight) caused by fungi of the genus Ascochyta, affecting leaves, stems, and pods of host plants.
Farmers reported severe yield losses this season due to ascochyta on the pea fields.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/26 23:48