
46 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JANUARY 
TABLE Il. 
PERCENTAGE OF GERMINATION IN GLYCERIN. 







: | 
ae Aspergillus ition Penicillium seaue ti pr ae Ustilago | Mucor 
tation flavus nigra glaucum alka vulga avenae_ |spinosus 
| 
fo | | 
= 75 fa) cae 100 75 50-90 fe) 
nu 
. 100* fe) ney 100 10-25 100* re) 
n 
oe 75-100 fe) Are 100* 25 100* fe) 
a 
- 20T 
* Nearly. + After two days. 
more germination than sugar, yet with Sterigmatocystis the case 
is reversed. In general, the difference in action has seemed to 
bear no particular relation to the physical properties of the 
substance, as for example its power of penetrating membranes. 
Most of the smut forms gave good germination on bean 
decoction, although less on pure distilled water than has been 
reported by observers using ordinary tap water. Uvomyces 
caryophillinus not only germinated less efficiently in bean decoc- 
tion than in distilled water, but in beet decoction it failed entirely 
to germinate. 
Of the three salts generally used in the standard adtriant 
salt solution, ammonium nitrate at a particular concentration 
gives abundant germination with Aspergillus flavus, but has no 
effect upon Sterigmatocystis. In general, the neutral salts give 
a greater stimulation than the one with acid properties. In this 
connection, reference should be made to the interesting results 
of Benecke.** He considers the presence of potassium absolutely 
necessary, and that without this metal no germination, or only 
traces of germination, can occur. Since his cultures were made 
in flasks, it is perhaps to be asked if he refers to germination 
(growth) visible to the unaided eye. Not only do some of the 
mold fungi germinate to considerable extent in solutions of 
BeNeECcKE, W.: Die zur Ernahrung der Schimmelpilze notwendigen Metalle. 
Jahrb. f. wiss. Bot. 28: 487-530. 1895. 

