29 



heading, consistsgf the formation of stronata as desorihci. in s -oro- 

 ce.ding chapter. These stromata are ripe when their color b-f-ii^ "'••<-' elia-ige 

 into purple violet and their stalks begin to lose their turgM.L+y, The 

 latter condition occurs first at theVprogresses^/Sase ^2) -upvTS-rdc LX 'Lhis 

 time there are formed in the ntmerous perithecla in each spherid;uMi a great 

 numher of asci, each containing eight spores. These apores are shot out 

 from the perithecia and some find their way to sw.sceptible plants, where 

 they germinate if conditions are favorable, causing infection again and thus 

 conrpleting the life history of the fung-us. 



Pro d uction of spores o 

 Both conidia and ascospores of Claviceps are formed in 

 great numbers, the former in the sphacelial growth and the latter in the 

 stromata. If the cloudy, sticky, "honey *dew" is examined microscopically 

 it is foimd to be teeming with millions of small ellipsoidal hyaline conidia. 

 When it is considered that the "honey dew" is secreted in abundance for a 

 considerable period of time, it is realized the very great number of spores 

 produced in each infected flower. 



The ascospores are produced also in considerable number. It 

 was estimated by Wllsen (299) tiiat from a sclerotium produced on Glyceria 

 flumtans one- twentieth of an inch in diameter, contained about 3,000 

 perithecia, and it is Snovm that a number of such stromata may be formed on 

 one sclerotium. Kuhn (145) states that a sclerotium with over fifteen 

 stromata will produce over a million ascospores. 



Viabil ity and .longevity; of sclerotia 

 The evident fuiaction of a sclerotium is the resistance of un- 

 favorable conditions, such as dry or cold weather or both. Just how long 

 a sclerotium remains viable is not laiown with absolute certainty since the 

 results obtained by various nsn are conflicting, ftilasne states, as a result 



