254 



Etltel McLennan : 



All attempts to cultivate the fungus in artificial media were un- 

 successful. 



In conclusion lie pointed out that Gueiin considered the relation 

 between the two organisms, one of true symbiosis; he agreed with 

 this idea, but added, ** the large hyphal layer of the grain, and 

 the occasional penetrations of the endosperm, suggest vestigial indi- 

 cations that the action of the fungus is, or has been, at times 

 injurious to the endosperm of the plant. Otherwise the fungus 

 .yeems ordinarily to exert an almost stimulating influence on the 

 host." 



Freeman examined 30 grains of Lolium perenne L., and found 

 ■only 5 contained the fungus. Of 59 grains of Lolium ifalicum, 

 Braun, 2 alone diowed the second organism, while of 25 grains 

 •of Lolium linicolum, Br., the full number gave positive results. 



Another paper by Nestler (8) appeared in 1904, but it throws 

 little further light on the problem. Fuchs (9), 1911, viewed the 

 subject from tlie chemical standpoint, and finally, in 1912, a re- 

 .search by Buchet (10) was published, but, unfortunately, I have 

 been unable to obtain this paper in Australia. 



The erratic occurrence of the fungus in both Lolium temuhufum 

 and Lolium perenne. recorded by these investigators does not tend 

 to support the idea of a symbiotic association, but rather stresses 

 the pi-obability of its parasitic nature. Ihe investigations described 

 in the following paper were carried out in order to test these results 

 for those grasses grown in Australia, and) also to attempt to eluci- 

 date the actual relation between the two organisms. In attempting 

 to further our knowledge of the relation between the grass and 

 its associated fungus, I have limited myself mainly to a study of 

 Lolium perenne, as practically no work has been done on this gi-ass, 

 and, in addition, it is a much more convenient form for obtaining 

 •embryological material. As far as time permitted I have compared 

 this form Avith Lolium temulenf^im, and the results recorded in 

 this paper are true for both forms. Perhaps a few minor differ- 

 ences may be determined later, but the main points are undoubt- 

 edly true for both grasses. 



Methods. 



Microtome sections were employed in the examination of the 

 mature grains. The grains were soaked in distilled water for 

 several hours, and then placed in a fixing fluid. During the early 

 part of this work, Carnoy's fixing solution was used. Owing to the 

 starchy nature of the endosperm, it was difficult to get good results, 



