adjective
- (of a parasitic organism, especially a rust fungus) requiring two different host species to complete its life cycle
Usage: biology; mycology
Examples
- The wheat rust is a heteroecious fungus that alternates between wheat and barberry plants.
- Heteroecious parasites depend on multiple host species for their survival and reproduction.
- Scientists study heteroecious rusts to understand how they spread between different crops.
- The life cycle of this heteroecious organism involves distinct stages on separate hosts.