286 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



fungi are parasitic on scale insects, not on the tree on which the 

 insects live, and they are very common in Ceylon. " The species are 

 not confined to one insect, a species parasitic on one Lecanium may 

 attack any Lecaniid — and any Lecaniid can he parasitized by fungus of 

 the Lecaniicolous group. Consequently, a collection from one plant. 

 usually all on the same scale insect, may include several species of 

 Aschersonia or Hypocrdla." The author goes on to state that several 

 species of the fungus may be collected from the insects on one leaf. 

 They all are brightly coloured at first, but blacken with age. 



Study of Ascochyta on some Leguminous Plants.*— R. E. Stone, 

 by experiment and observation, has followed the life-history of an 

 Ascochyta on Lathyrus sntinis. The pycnidial fungus was followed 

 later by the perfect fruiting form, which has been named Mycoxph&relhi 

 ontarioensis. Usually the ascospore stage does not develop until the 

 spring following the appearance of the pycnidial stage, but in the case 

 of the present fungus, and also of an allied species on pea or vetch, the 

 second or perfect form of the fungus appeared in July or August of 

 the same season. The account of the cultures and inoculations is given 

 in full detail. 



Longevity of Spores.t — F. D. Heald and Studhalter have tested the 

 length of time that spores of Endothia parasitica remain viable under 

 artificial conditions. 



Pycindiospores suspended in water at various temperatures showed a 

 gradual reduction in the number that retained vitality, one-third only 

 being viable at the end of forty-nine days. 



These spores issue from the pycnidium in gelatinous masses or 

 " spore-horns," and in that condition they retain vitality longer than 

 when separated by water and then allowed to dry. The drying process 

 itself was fatal to a number varying from G6 to 7<s p.c. All of them 

 were dead in two weeks. 



Similarly, ascospores live a shorter time when separated in water and 

 then dried. None so treated remained viable more than thirty-five 

 days, and a large percentage were killed by the process ; but both pycni- 

 diospores and ascospores survived longer when dried on bark than on 

 glass. 



Abortive Sporophores of Wood-Destroying Fungi.} — J. R. Weir 

 has made a series of observations on the appearance of these abortive 

 structures in Fomes, Trametes, etc. He found that the abortive fruiting 

 structures of Fomes igniarius emerged from deep open wounds. Fertile 

 normal sporophores more often appear directly through the bark or on 

 wounds in which the vegetative mycelium is protected from external 

 influences. " The collection of water in the deep open wounds, freezing 

 and thawing, etc., has a tendency to maintain the mycelium at the 



* Phytopathology, v. (1915) pp. 4-10 (figs.), 

 t Phytopathology, v. (1915) pp. 35-44 (1 pi.). 

 X Phytopathology, v. (1915) pp. 48-50. 



