206 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Notes on Erysiphaceae.* — E. S. Salmon contributes supplementary 

 information on some species of Uncinula from Japan. They present 

 some interesting variations of form and habit. He also comments on 

 the spread of the gooseberry mildew, Sphtvrotheca mors-uvce. 



Morphology and Development of the Ascocarp in Monascus.f — 

 B. T. P. Barker has followed in minute detail the growth of this fungus. 

 He describes the formation of the ascogonium from one of the cells 

 of the hyphae and its fertilisation by the antheridium. The ascogonium 

 develops as a large central cell and produces a nest of ascogenous hyplue, 

 the large cell growing round these and affording protection as well as 

 nutrition. Investing hypha? which eventually form the peridium are 

 produced from the base of the cell. Meanwhile the ascogenous hyplne 

 increase and push out the large central cell, and in time produce 

 8-spored asci. The walls of the asci break down and leave a mass of 

 spores loose in the sporangium-like fruit. 



From the development, Barker considers 3Ionascus as a compara- 

 tively simple type of Ascomycetes and not far removed from a common 

 ancestral type. He compares Monascus with other Ascomycetes and 

 with the Oomycetes, and is inclined to consider that a close relationship 

 exists between the latter and the simpler forms of Ascomycetes. 



Chsetomium Bostrychoides4 — G. Massee describes the corkscrew- 

 like appendages of the perithecium, which are hygroscopic and aid in 

 the dispersal of the spores by uncoiling or expanding. The species is 

 new to Britain. 



New Parasitic Fungi.§ — L. Montemartini and R. Farneti have 

 examined a disease of the vine from the Caucasus, which was supposed 

 to be identical with black-rot. The fungus found growing on the 

 grapes could not be identified with that causing black -rot. The authors 

 find that it is a new species and name it Phy&alospora Woroninii. 

 The perithecia develop in the autumn, and are black, somewhat pyrif orm, 

 about ij mm. in height, and almost superficial ; the asci are accompanied 

 by paraphyses. The pycniclial form is smaller but has much the same 

 appearance. 



G. Pallacci || examined some plants of Medicago saliva, the leaves of 

 which were covered with pale spots. He found that this was caused by 

 the perithecia of a pyrenomycete Pleosphc&rulina Briosiana sp. n. The 

 perithecia are immersed, then erumpent, globose-oblong ; the asci are 

 clavate without paraphyses ; the spores colourless and muriform. 



G. Briosi and R. Farneti If publish a preliminary note on a disease of 

 the mulberry caused by Fusarium lateritium, hitherto recognised only 

 as a saprophyte. The fungus attacks the young buds and does very 

 great damage to the trees. The authors describe three new fungi 

 found also growing on the branches attacked by Fusarium : namely 

 Phoma piriformis, Ph. cicatriculm, and Coniotltyrium mororum. Their 

 connection with the disease was not determined. 



* Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, xxix. (1902) pp. 647-9. 



t Ann. Bot., xvii. (1903) pp. 167-233 (2 pis.). 



j Journ. Quekett Micr. Club, 1902, pp. 355-6. 



§ Atti 1st. Bot. Univ. Pavia, vii. (1902) pp. 33-47 (1 pi.). 



II Tom. cit., pp. 49-53 (1 pi.). «| Tom. cit., p. 123. 



