262 THE ASCOMYCETES 



surface of the mummified fruits. They are capable of explosively 

 shedding ascospores by the time the flower buds are beginning to 

 open. The flowers become infected thereby and are blighted. 

 Such blighted flowers constitute a means of keeping the fungus 

 alive until the fruits begin to ripen. 



The classical studies on Sclerotinia gladioli by Drayton (1934) 

 are fundamental to an understanding of the development of this 

 genus and presumably of related cup-fungi. Drayton grew this 

 fungus in culture. Microconidia (spermatia) were developed in 

 abundance; stromatic masses were also produced. When these 

 stromatic masses were placed on moist sand and kept at a favor- 

 able temperature, columnar pilose structures developed. These 

 structures proved to be receptive bodies, for when Drayton 

 placed spermatia on them the columns elongated and eventually 

 were transformed into mature stalked apothecia. On sectioning 

 the columnar structures, Drayton found that each contained a 

 coiled ascogone, larger and more deeply staining than the sur- 

 rounding filaments. 



Drayton furthermore found that monospore cultures yielded 

 isolates that could be divided into two groups on the basis of 

 compatibility. Each produced microconidia that were functional 

 [Drayton (1932)], and also each produced archicarps. Indi- 

 vidually the monosporic cultures w ere sterile. When Drayton 

 crossed a member of one group of isolates with a member of the 

 other, however, apothecia were developed. By crossings he dem- 

 onstrated that the members of either group were cross-incom- 

 patible and intragroup sterile, but intergroup compatible and 

 fertile. 



Among the many others who have contributed to an under- 

 standing of Sclerotinia are Woronin (1896), Godfrey (1923) 

 and Whetzel (1926, 1929, 1945). 



Perhaps the most remarkable Monilinia is one whose pseudo- 

 sclerotia form on fruits of Ledum pahistre, where apothecia are 

 produced. The ascospores initiate infection on the foliage of 

 Vacciiiiimt uliginosimt, where conidia form to reinfect the fruits 

 of L. paliistre [Woronin and Nawaschin (1896)]. This Moni- 

 linia is thus heteroecious, a phenomenon that is otherwise re- 

 stricted, among fungi, to the Uredinales. 



Other Ciborioideae. Other genera of the Ciborioideae of more 

 than passing interest are Ovulinia, Rutstroemia, Septotinia, and 



