75 



Woodiness of the Passion-Fruit. 



Fig. 7, p. 411 Agricultural Gazette, 1901, illustrates green passion- 

 fruit beginning to be woody and cracked, whose further history is as 

 follows : 



The portions of the surface which crack generally the lower parts 

 as the fruit hangs on the vine turn to a dirty white or very light russet 

 colour, and the surface cracks off in thin layers, leaving a rougher and 

 more russety surface ; that is to say, a dry corrosion takes place. 

 Before the dirty-white area cracks away its margin is sometimes 

 separated from the green and intact parts of the fruit by a green area 

 where the cells seem to have collapsed without losing their green 

 colour. If a fruit showing the foregoing appearances is plucked it 

 will, after 48 hours, begin to " crinkle " on the green parts, but will 

 remain unchanged in the woody parts remain quite hard, dry and 

 " woody." 



Macrosporium of the Passion-Vine. 



The following are details of a Macrosporium found on the leaves of 

 the Passion- vine : 



The outward 

 growths are ar- 

 ranged either 

 singly or in 

 groups of three 

 to ten spores 

 on hyphae much 

 shorter than the 

 spores. 



As seen through the microscope the spores are of a light brownish 

 colour. The size varies, as shown in the adjoining table of measure- 

 ment of ten spores, from 24-30 x 126-178 //.. The twelve to seventeen 

 cells of the spore are arranged in a murif orm manner. 



The distal ends of the spores are more slender than usual, and it is 

 seldom that one sees at this end of the spore the slightest indication 

 that it has been connected with others of its kind. In no case were 

 the spores seen growing in chains, although spores in situ were 

 examined to a considerable extent. It thus seems as if we may here 

 have a species entitled to be classed among the forms assembled 

 under the name Macrosporium. The germination of these spores 

 is very prompt and vigorous. The above wood-cut gives additional 

 details. 



The spores were borne on four to five-celled basidia of somewhat 

 irregular diameter swollen between the septa and especially at the 

 base, and of the same colour as the spores. They were nearly straight 

 and measured 6 x 60/A. 



As has just been noted, a so-called species of Altemaria or Macro- 

 sporium, probably the latter, is sometimes present on the leaves 

 of the Passion-vine, and this species is identical with that to be found 



178 x 30 

 136 x 29 

 156 x 25 

 140 x 25 

 140 x 27 

 142 x 24 

 131 x 25 

 146 x 30 

 177 x 28 

 126 x 25 



Fig. 84. Macrosporium from the leaves of 

 the passion-vine. 



J 



