SCLEROTIUM COFFEICOLA 



445 



sclerotia and the white feathery mycelium. The sclerotia and 

 mycelium of S. cojfeicola were observed by Martyn on decaying 

 leaves not only in Coffee plantations but also in native forests. As 

 a result of his observations Martyn is inclined to believe that S. 

 cojfeicola is to be regarded as a saprophyte on decaying leaf-tissues 

 and, at the same time, as a potential parasite which, under suitable 

 weather conditions, obtains a foot-hold on living plants. In being 



Fig. 225. — Sclerotiuni cqffeicola. Leaf-spots caused by the fungus, seen from the 

 under side of a leaf of Coffea liberica. The two large spots have produced 

 numerous gemmifers which are arranged in concentric rings. The needle-like 

 gemmae and the knob-like pedicels from which they break away can be easily 

 recognised. The fungiLs progresses fastest along the larger veins of the leaf. 

 Photographed by G. Stahel. Natural size. 



able to attack the living leaves of various kinds of plants, including 

 Ferns, S. cojfeicola resembles Omphalia jiavida. 



The disease caused by Sclerotium cojfeicola on the Coffee plant 

 was first described by Kuyper ^ in 1913. He called it the Coremium 

 disease because the little white needles (gemmae) which are produced 

 on the leaf-spots and Coffee berries reminded him of coremia. 

 However, these " coremia " do not produce any conidia and the 

 presence of clamp-connexions in the mycelium affords evidence 

 that the fungus is a Basidiomycete. Clearly, therefore, the name 



1 J. Kuyper, " Overzicht van de Koffieziekten in Suriname," Departement van 

 der Landbouw in Suriname, Bull. No. 31, 1913, p. 58. 



