31 



when favoiable conditions are furnished, are also capatle of germinating 

 during the second year. 



3. The scletotia that have drc^jEiJ. in the field germinate 

 at the same time as do sclerotia of the same year which were planted later. 



4. The development of sclerotia is marlcedly influenced by 

 external conditions. 



5. Rotted sclerotia often prove to be capable of germination. 



6. Parts of sclerotia can also germinate. 



Viability and longevity of conidia 

 Conidia of Claviceps have been imovm to retain their 

 germinating power for over ten months and they may rejiain viable for even 

 longer periods. StMger's experiments in this connection are most important 

 and interesting. He used conidia from sclerotia, gathered in Russia, in 

 July and August 1911, and which still had the remains of caps on their tips, 

 were still somewhat Sticlsy, and had a distinct "honey dew" odor. The 

 sclerotia were kept in the dark and over lime. On February 25th, 1912 he 

 tested the viability of the still normal and fresh appearing conidia from 

 the above sclerotia in hanging drops and as expected found them viable. 

 On April 27th, 1912, blossoming plants of Anthoxanthum odoratum were in- 

 oculated with such conidia. at least nine months after the sclerotia had 

 been gathered. On Itoy 10th he observed a slight secretion of "honey dew" 

 on the inoculated plants. On illay 14th, the dew appeared in great quantities 

 and sclerotia were formed later. On July 5th, 1912, he inoculated rye 

 plants with some of the same conidia and secured infections. This shows 

 that the conidia of C.. purpurea retained their germinating power even after 

 ten months. This fact was first demonstrated in 1858 by Bonorden (26), who 



