DISEASES OF PLANTS. 241 



Amygdalase and amygdalinase in Aspergillus niger and related Hypho- 

 mycetes, M. Javillieb and Mme. H. Tciieknououtzky {Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 

 27 {1913), No. 6, pp. U0-U9).— The authors state, as the result of a study of 

 A. {Sterigmatocystis) niger and some related fungi, that most of these are un- 

 equally rich in the two diastases, amygdalase and amygdalinase, a low per- 

 centage of zinc in the culture medium corresponding to a deficiency of both; 

 also that in most of the fungi studied, the first named enzym predominates, the 

 proportions varying somewhat with the age of a given culture. 



Morphological alterations in Aspergillus niger grown in various acids and 

 acid salts, A. Kiesel {Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 21 {1913), No. 6, pp. 481-488, pis. 

 2). — Pursuant to previous reports (E. S. R., 29, p. 734), the author figures and 

 describes numerous alterations in mycelial growth and in cellular size, form, 

 vacuolation, granulation, etc., noted in case of A. niger, grown in various media. 



Some factors which influence the development of Penicillium glaucum, 

 H. I. Waterman {Over eenige factoren, die de ontiviklceling van Penicillinni 

 glaucum be'invloeden. Proefschr. Tech. Hoogesch. Delft, 1913, pp. 157). — Sum- 

 marizing the results of an extended study of factors affecting the development 

 of P. glaucum, the author states that the number and variety of organic com- 

 pounds which in suitable concentration may serve as the carbon source in the 

 development of P. glaucum is very large, but that highly oxidized compounds 

 take no part in its development. The compounds which are harmless in mod- 

 erate concentration are not all assimilable. A few aromatic compounds may 

 serve as exclusive sources of organic nutriment for this fungus. 



The occurrence of smut on the seed of some grasses, H. M. Quanjer 

 {Tijdschr. Plant enziekt en, 19 {1913), No. 5, pp. 137-152, pis. 2).— The author 

 describes the occurrence of Ustilago bromiuora on species of brome grass, par- 

 ticularly Bromus vnioloides. It has been claimed that the beetle Phalacrus 

 cwrrw.scws, through eating the spores of this smut, aids materially in keeping the 

 disease under control, but the author believes that it is not so efficient as has 

 been reported. For the control of the disease he recommends soaking the seed 

 in a solution of copper sulphate or treating with hot water. Both of these 

 methods have reduced the amount of smut, but the best results were obtained 

 with the hot water treatment. Formaldehyde has also been recommended and 

 has been used with some success. 



The occurrence of rust spores in the interior of seeds of grasses, J. 

 Beauverie {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 157 {1913), No. 18, pp. 787-790).— 

 The author reports having observed pustules containing spores of rust in wheat, 

 barley. Bromus mollis, and Agropyron spp. The presence of the rust in these 

 seeds is believed by him to be of great importance when considered from the 

 standpoint of the propagation of rusts. 



Injury from rust fungi, D. Hegyi {Kis6rlet. Kozlem., 16 {1913), No. 4, pp. 

 544-553). — Experiments are said to show that several common treatments for 

 smut fungi are ineffective, but that treating the seed with either 1 per cent 

 copper sulphate or 0.13 per cent formalin is safely protective. It is also stated 

 that injury due to stinking smut is probably much greater than has hitherto 

 been thought, requiring a more thorough study of this fungus. 



Longevity of loose smut of barley in case of infected seed, H, Zimmermann 

 {Ztsclir. Pflanzenkrank., 23 {1913), No. 5, pp. 257-260).— Reporting on a con- 

 tinuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 25, p. 244), the author gives 

 tabular results of experimentation with 18 varieties of barley during 1908 to 

 1912. He concludes that the ability of Ustilago hordei to develop loose smut 

 in barley appears to depend largely upon the stage of development of the 

 variety in question, the time as well as the violence of attack varying in dif- 



