PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH REFERENCE TO THE 
GERMINATION OF CERTAIN FUNGOUS SPORES. 
B. M. DUGGAR. ; 
INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL. 
Tus study was entered upon with the view of ascertaining 
somewhat more definitely than previous researches have indicated 
what may be some of the special factors which influence germina- 
tion. As particular lines of inquiry the following may be men- 
tioned as suggestive. In how far does there exist in the spores of 
fungi an essential physiological difference, whereby some may ger- 
minate by the mere absorption of water, while others may require 
for this germination a food supply from without? Where a food 
supply is required, does germination require a perfect food or a 
particular food? May a chemical irritant, or poison, which is 
not primarily a food substance, thus function as a stimulus? Is 
it possible by mechanical means, or by a change of conditions, 
to furnish the necessary stimulus for germination? Considering 
the broad field thus suggested, it has yet been possible to study 
but a very limited number of fungi. Moreover, there are 
numerous minor questions which must be considered in a sub- 
sidiary way. 
Using the term germination in its broadest sense, it may be 
well at the outset to notice some of the conditions of food sup- 
ply or stimulation characterizing germination in general. As a 
rule, the seed of the phanerogam requires for germination only 
water, along with suitable conditions of temperature and requisite 
oxygen supply. Not even does the force of imbibition of the 
seed coats have any special action in inciting to activity the 
dormant faculties. In about a dozen plants upon which I have 
experimented, the uninvested embryo, that is, entirely free from 
integuments or externally stored food material, is capable of 
manifesting the first stages of germination in distilled water. 
38 [JANUARY — 



