AGEICULTURAL BOTANY. 823 



Heredity and mutation as cell phenomena, R. R. Gates (Amer. Jour. Bot., 



2 (1915), No. 10, pp. 519-528). — This is a discussion of several characters and 

 their inheritance in certain CEnotheras, based upon the conceptions which the 

 author favors of variation and inheritance, namely, the process by which 

 new differences arise and the process by which they are perpetuated. 



Not only do parallel mutations occur independently in species widely apart, 

 but wide differences are found in the types of change which give rise to 

 them. » Emphasis is laid on the statement that each mutation is the result 

 of a cell change which is repeated in every part of the organism, having orig- 

 inated in the fertilized egg. A mutant is such because not only germ cells 

 but somatic cells contain a certain peculiarity. It is thought that a female 

 animal, like a mutant, is somatically distinguished by a different chromosome 

 content in all its tissues and that many important implications lie in this fact. 



The CE. ruhricalyx character is considered an example of a mutation funda- 

 mentally chemical, though the precise nature of the change by which it is 

 produced is as yet unknown. It is thought probable that (E. rubricalyx is also 

 a cell mutation, the nuclei in all parts containing a descendant of the original 

 changed chromosome. Parallels to this mutation are found in such plants 

 as the copper beech and the red sunflower, which belong to widely separated 

 groups. 



Genetical studies on Oxalis, S. Nohara (Jour. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. Tokyo, 

 6 (1915), No. 2, pp. 165-182, pi. 1). — The results are given of a study of several 

 forms of Oxalis growing in Tokyo and its vicinity. A number of these forms, 

 which are characterized by differences in flower and leaf color, were grown 

 as pedigreed plants and used in crossing experiments. 



As a result of the culture work some of these forms were found to be dis- 

 tinct biotypes. In the materials employed the presence or absence of purple 

 In the corolla and leaves was used as a distinctive character. This color 

 is said to be due to the presence of a purple cell sap. Four of the five pedigreed 

 cultures were found to be pure types, while one split into forms of the pure 

 types upon self-fertilization. In the hybrids the presence of a factor or factors 

 of purple color was found dominant over the absence of the same. An Fi 

 generation was found intermediate in color intensity between its parents. The 

 two reciprocals of any of the hybrids were found to be of exactly the same 

 nature so far as the author's investigations are given. 



Self-pollination and the possibility of artificial cross-polHnation in rice, 

 R. Fabneti (Atti 1st. Bot. R. Univ. Pavia, 2. scr., 12 (1915), pp. 351-362, pi. 1). — 

 The author has studied the possibility of accomplishing artificial fertilization 

 in rice. It was found that with sufficient skill and patience this could be 

 brought about at the proper stage by introducing a fine instrument through the 

 minute opening at the points of the glumes. It was, however, difficult to avoid 

 causing self-fertilization or injury resulting in sterility. 



The nature of peloria in flowers, M. J. Sibks (Ztschr. Induktive Abstam. u. 

 Tcrerhungslehre, 14 (1915), No. 2, pp. 71-79). — The author, giving results of his 

 own studies, holds with Vochting (E. S. R., 9, p. 1027) that peloria is due, not 

 to external conditions primarily, but to the operation of causes which are in- 

 terior to the plant itself and bound up with the constitution of the species. In 

 the cases studied, peloria and fasciation appear to be the results of independent 

 processes. A bibliography is given. 



The nature of peloria, M. J. Sikks (Arch. N6erland. Sci. Exact, et Nat., Ser. 



3 B,2 (1915), No. 2, pp. 239-283, flgs. 3).— This is a more extended presentation 

 of the material above reported, with a discussion of heredity and of external 

 influences as related to peloria. 



41852°— No. 9—16 3 



