SUGAR-CANE 83 



in new locations. There are two well-recognised stages 

 in the reproduction of this fungus : 



Stage 1. The conidia, which are two kinds, the 

 macroconidia and microconidia. Both are borne from 

 the same filaments and near a wound, as black velvety 

 patches. The microspores are the smaller of the two. 



Stage 2. Ascigerous, which occurs as minute, 

 black, hairy perithecia on dead, more or less decayed 

 canes. 



This fungus grows abundantly on dead canes and 

 also on bruised fruits, such as banana and pineapple, 

 and so has abundant opportunity to perpetuate itself 

 from season to season. There is some difference of 

 opinion as to whether it can or cannot penetrate healthy 

 uninjured plants, but there can be no doubt that the 

 insects greatly facilitate the infection by carrying tha 

 spores, and by making wounds through which the 

 organism gains access to the interior of the plant. It is 

 especially destructive on the cuttings, which it attacks 

 through the wounds and prevents germination. It has 

 been suggested that the fungus may be of saprophytic 

 ancestry, but that it readily adapts itself and becomes 

 parasitic. 



Mr. Howard l believes that it cannot pass through 

 the nodes, but is confined to the internode in which the 

 inoculation takes place. 



Mr. E. J. Butler does not believe that this fungus 

 is responsible for the disease, but that the true cause 

 is Colletotrichum falcatum, and that T. sacchari is 

 secondary in importance, growing only on the weak or 

 unhealthy canes, especially those which have been 

 infected with C. falcatum. However, according to our 

 present knowledge, T. sacchari has a much wider dis- 

 tribution than V. falcatum, but further investigations 

 may show that their ranges coincide. At the present 

 time it is known in the Southern United States, West 

 Indies, British Guiana, Antigua, Mauritius, India, 



1 Howard, "Sugar-Cane Diseases in the West Indies," Ann. of Bot., March 

 1903. 



