**Heteroecious**
**Definition**
Heteroecious refers to organisms, particularly certain parasitic fungi, that require two different host species to complete their life cycle.
## Overview
The term „heteroecious” is commonly used in mycology to describe fungi that alternate between two unrelated host plants during different stages of their development. This complex life cycle allows the parasite to exploit different environments and resources, often involving a primary host where sexual reproduction occurs and a secondary host for asexual reproduction.
## Examples and Significance
A well-known example of a heteroecious fungus is the wheat stem rust (*Puccinia graminis*), which alternates between wheat and barberry plants. Understanding heteroecious life cycles is important in agriculture and plant pathology for managing diseases caused by these fungi.
**Meta Description:**
Heteroecious describes parasitic fungi requiring two distinct host species to complete their life cycle. This adaptation is significant in plant pathology and agriculture.