10201 AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 433 



Factors influencing the invertase activity of mold spores in sugar, 



N. KopLLOKF iiiulS. Byai.l {Abs: in Science, n. ser., 51 {1920), No. 1318. 

 p. S51). — A brief accouut is given of investigations carried on by the authors 

 on the invertase activity of mold spores, a more detailed account of wliich has 

 already been noted (E. S. R.. 42, p. S03). 



A suggestion as to the flagellation of tlie organisms causing legume 

 nodules, H. J. Conn and K. S. Biskkd {Science, n. sci:. 51 {1020), Ko. I.i20, 

 pp. 391, .932).— Attention is called to the statement of Hansen (E. S. K., 42, 

 p. 434) that the organism occurring in the root tubercles of the soy bean is 

 monotrichic, while Wilson (E. S. K., 3G, p. 848) has reported it as peritrichic. 

 It is stated by the authors that in Hansen's investigations the cultures were- 

 but a few days old, while those of Wilson were 28 days ojd before staining. 

 This is said to raise the question whether the cowpea and soy boan organisms 

 may not be monotrichic in young cultures and peritrichic when they are older. 



Studies in variegation, I, W. Batkson {Jour. Genetia, 8 {1919), No. 2, 

 pp. 93-98, pl-s. 3. fly. I). — Variegation due to absence or deficiency of chlorophyll 

 has been for some time a special object for study at the .John Innes Horticul- 

 tural Institution, the interest being based on the circumstance that in varie- 

 gated plants an opportunity is given of witnessing somatic distribution of a 

 character, deficiency of chlorophyll, already known to l)e in many plants a 

 Mendelian recessive. The examples described in this paper illustrate miscel- 

 laneous features in the special kind of segregation indicated in the opening 

 paragraph of the paper. The phenomena are considered as of importance aside 

 from any question of their wider application. 



The first section of this work deals with reversal in ]iericlinal chimeras as 

 illustrated in different plants, notably Pelargoniums, Coprosma haucri, and 

 Euonymus japonicus latifolius variegata. The occurrence of reversal, and of 

 areas wholly green or wholly white, is considered as a result of some insta- 

 bility arising in the growing point, regarding which certain suggestions are 

 offered. 



In consequence of somatic reversal, the genetic projierties of the. plant are 

 conqvletely changed. The implications are briefly discussed. 



On the non-Mendelian inheritance in variegated plants, O. Winge 

 (Compt. Rend. Lab. Carhberg, U, {1919), No. 3, pp. 1-21, figs, .i).— The author 

 details experimentation carried out during 1911-1916 as to heredity in llunwlus 

 japonincus albomaculata, in which the albomaculata character was trans- 

 mitted only through the mother. Variegated female prlants gave throughout 

 (1,500 plants) only variegated <lescondants (never entirely green nor entirely 

 white), regardle.ss of the characters in the father plants. 



For entirely yellow varieties (incapable of indefinite existence) the author 

 proposes the term citrina ; for entirely white ones (equally incapable) the term 

 albina. It is thought that the quality in variegated plant forms which .segre- 

 gates albina and self-colored green forms probably originates in the chroma- 

 tophores themselves, that quality in those producing only variegated offspring 

 arising from peculiarities in the plasm. 



Suggestions are offered as to hypotheses, which are followed up with a dis- 

 cussion of the real nature of the hereditary conditions here involved. 



Variation in Abutilon theophrasti, C. A. Shuix {Abs. in Science, n. ser., 

 52 {1920), No. 1832, p. 41. — The author gives a brief account of investigation 

 on the variability in the number of carpels in the ovaries of A. theophrasti. 

 The range of variability is .said to be from 10 tf) 17 with the mode usually on 

 14 or 15. Only three specimen<j out of about 8,000 examined had 17 carpels to 

 the ovary. 



