Melanotaenium endogenum, commonly called Bedstraw Smut is a pathogen of Galium mollugo (hedge bedstraw, false baby's breath) and Galium verum (lady's bedstraw, yellow bedstraw). The mycellium grows intercellularly and produces tufted haustoria in the host cells. The affected plants are stunted, with shortened internodes and undeveloped or underdeveloped flowers.
Melanotaenium endogenum is a member of Melanotaeniaceae family from the order Urocystidales (Ustilaginomycotina), and was sequenced as part of the 1000 Fungal Genomes project. The 1000 Fungal Genomes Project aims fill in gaps in the Fungal Tree of Life by sequencing at least two reference genomes from the more than 500 recognized families of Fungi. This project additionally aims to inform research on plant-microbe interactions, microbial emission and capture of greenhouse gasses, and environmental metagenomic sequencing.