134 DIE-BACK OF CHILLIES IN BIHAR 
Sclerotia. These bodies are formed in two way.: (1) Hyphe collect 
together and form a solid black ball. On sectioning, this is found to be composed 
more or less uniformly of brown pseudo-parenchymatous cells, but in some 
cases there is a slight différentiation into cortex and medulla ; the central cells 
are large and thin-walled and the peripheral cells havea smaller lumen and are 
thick-walled and deeply coloured. (2) At times what is potentially an 
acervulus is transformed into a sclerotium. As im the case of a normal 
acervulus, a base of brown-coloured pseudo-parenchyma is laid down. From 
this arise dark coloured setz and parallel rows of light coloured thin and 
septate hyphe which in the course of normal development would have borne 
basidia and spores ; interspersed with these fine hyphw are found broad ones 
from which barrel-shaped cells are cut off. By the repeated branching of sete 
and hyphe and by formation of lateral outgrowths, a sclerotium is thus formed 
in place of an acervulus (Plate H, fig. 7). Sclerotia often have set like those 
ot V. varzans Duc. on potato. 
Stromatic masses. In old cultures on agar media stromatic plates are 
laid down closely appressed to the surface of the medium. These plates are 
composed of brown septate hyphw. They seem to be filled with some reserve 
material. When hyphe from the agar medium come in contact with the 
sides of the tube they bear appressoria which run into chains (Plate II, fig. 8). 
These chains unite into small triangular black or brown stromatic masses 
which creep up the sides of the tube and form a band round the margin of 
the medium. 
On sterilized stems of Capsicum sp. and potato very little wnal growth is 
formed. Sclerotia and acervuli are produced in abundance. 
When the acervulus becomes old and dry it is covered by a mucilagimous 
hard coat which keeps the enclosed mas of spores viable for several months ; 
but the conidia are very short lived if they get separated from the mass. 
Spores germinate in ordinary water by giving out germ-tubes from near their 
ends. When the germ-tube has grown a short distance there is formed at its 
end an appressorium. In some .cases the germinating spore divides by a 
septum at the middle and may become constricted at this point (Plate I, fig. 8). 
The germ-tubes do not anastomose as those of Glwosporrum piperatum 
Kk. & K. They do not form secondary conidia on their tips or on lateral 
branches. 
Sclerotia and stromatic masses may resume growth immediately under 
favourable conditions, but they are capable of retaining their vitality 
for several months. They “ germinate” by giving out hyaline hyphe from 
their cells. 
