heteroecious(heteroxenous) Applied to a parasitic organism (e.g. the rust fungus Puccinia graminis) in which part of the life cycle occurs obligatorily in one host and the remaining part obligatorily in another. Heteroecism occurs in several groups of animal parasites and in the rust fungi, but in only a few plant species. Compare monoecious.

heteroecious (heteroxenous) Applied to a parasitic organism (e.g. the rust fungus Puccinia graminis) in which part of the life cycle occurs obligatorily in one host and the remaining part obligatorily in another. Heteroecism occurs in several groups of animal parasites but, apart from the rust fungi, in only a few plant species. Compare AUTOECIOUS.

heteroecious Describing rust fungi (see rusts) that pass different phases of their life cycle on different host plants. Compare autoecious.

heteroecious (heteroxenous) Applied to a parasitic organism in which different stages of the life cycle occur in different species of host organism.