328 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [NOVEMBER 
the ripe juice. It is interesting to note in this connection that 
although the spores germinate readily in fresh tomato juice at 
g°—10° C., decay is practically if not totally prevented in both ripe 
and green tomatoes at this temperature. 
In sterile distilled water at 10° C. only a very few spores have 
ever been observed to germinate. After three days, usually less 
than 1 per cent have germinated. At room temperature about ro 
per cent germinate within twenty-four hours, and 20-30 per cent 
in forty-eight hours. The spores seem to absorb water rapidly, 
and burst before having a chance to send forth a germ tube when 
placed in sterile distilled water at 34°-35° C. 
Basisporium grows well on most nutrient agars. Potato agar 
plus 2 per cent dextrose has been used with excellent results in 
culture studies of this fungus. The mycelium is white at first, 
moderately thick and cottony, later turning pale smoke color as 
sporulation takes place. Fine growth has been obtained at a 
temperature as high as 35° C., but sporulation seems to be inhibited 
somewhat at that temperature. Plate cultures held at g@-10° C. 
for seven days developed only a very thin, flat growth whose radius 
was 3mm. Taking the other 5 oalagece experiments into con- 
sideration, it would seem that 10° C, is approximately the minimum 
at which Basisporium will grow. 
Spores are borne abundantly on the terminal as well as the lateral 
branches of the small fertile hyphae. The spores are black, sub- 
spherical, smooth, and have a tendency to be slightly conical on 
top and flattened underneath. Average measurement through 
the axis is 11.4 4, and through the transverse diameter 15.3 u- 
The fertile aerial hyphae are 3.5~5 u in diameter. Large sterile 
hyphae within decaying tissues of tomatoes and on surface of agar 
in plate cultures are 12-17 w in diameter. These measurements 
show a slight variation from those given by Mottiarp. The 
original drawings also show a narrower constriction of the sporo- 
phore at its junction with the spore. These differences are felt 
to be of minor importance, however, and, although a new host is 
involved, do not seem to justify the making of a new species. 
Bureau oF Piant Inpustry 
WasHINGTON, D.C. 
