39 



considerable resistance in previous years to the smuts. They re- 

 sponded this year in much the same fashion as previously. It may 

 be noted that a few infections of Avena brevis, a highly resistant 

 species of Avena, were obtained. 



A large planting of second and third generation hybrids of a 

 cross between Fulghum and Swedish Select oats was made. Both 

 Fulghum and Swedish Select oats are valuable as commercial 

 varieties which are adapted to different sections of the country. 

 The Fulghum oat has proved to be highly resistant to smut, while 

 the Swedish Select is moderately susceptible. Strains from the 

 cross have been obtained which have shown as high a degree of 

 resistance as the Fulghum parent. Other strains have proved 

 to be moderately susceptible and still additional strains have shown 

 a much higher susceptibility to both smuts than the more suscep- 

 tible parent. 



A series of plantings of a few varieties of oats- — some highly 

 susceptible, others highly resistant — were made on a number of 

 different dates. The highest percentages of infection were ob- 

 tained towards the latter part of April and the first of May, while 

 lower percentages were obtained in the very early or very late 

 plantings. 



Some phases of the investigations on oat and sorghum smuts 

 are regarded as completed and two manuscripts have been sub- 

 mitted for publication. Since this work has been in cooperation 

 with the Office of Cereal Investigations, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, the manuscripts have been submitted to that office 

 for consideration. Two additional manuscripts are practically 

 ready for submission for publication. 



In the last report, the appointment of Mr. James A. Faris as 

 Research Fellow was noted. He has been engaged upon the 

 problem of determining the influence of temperature and soil 

 moisture upon the infection of the host by certain smuts, using 

 principally the covered smut of barley. During the past year he 

 has obtained some very important results and is making a success- 

 ful attack upon this problem. He will continue these investiga- 

 tions this year and should be able to clear up various points in 

 connection with the influence of these factors. 



