OCCURRENCE IN N.S.W. OF PERFECT STAGE OF SCLEROTIiNIA. 215 



NOTE on the OCCURRENCE in NEW SOUTH WALES, 



AUSTRALIA, OF the PERFECT STAGE OF A 



SOLEROTINIA causing BROWN ROT OF FRUITS. 



By T. H. Harrison. 

 (Communicated by W. L. Waterhouse, b.Sc.) 

 With Plate XV. 



[Read before the Royal Society of N. 8. Wales, November 2, 192f.~\ 



Introduction. 



For the last century (4) the fungus Sclerotinia has engaged 

 the attention of many of the ablest mycologists and plant 

 pathologists. This Ascomycete, of which the Monilia stage 

 causes the " Brown Rot " of fruits, is undoubtedly one of 

 the worst enemies of horticulturists and pomologists 

 throughout the world. 



After Woronin's discovery in 1888 (5) of the perfect stage 

 of a Sclerotinia on Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idcea), the 

 occurrence of the apothecial stage of the Brown Rot fungus 

 was predicted. But it was not until 1902 that the valued 

 material was found by Norton in an orchard in Maryland, 

 U.S.A. - 3) This apothecium arose from a mummified peach. 

 On numerous occasions since then, and especially in 1906 

 and 1910/ 2) many apothecia, in all cases arising from mum- 

 mified peaches and plums, have been found by various 

 American workers. 



On the Continent of Europe, Alderhold and Ruhland, in 

 1905, found apothecia arising from mummified apples and 

 apricots, (1) but not until January 1920 was the perfect stage 

 found in England. Wormald, in January 1919, (4) collected 

 mummified plums which had been naturally infected the 

 previous summer. After exposing the mummies to climatic 



