14 BULLETIN 727, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The presence or absence of setz in the acervuli has played a major 
réle in the generic nomenclature of this fungus, since the presence 
of sete forms the basis for the distinction between Colletotrichum 
and Gloeosporium. Kriiger, in the publication above quoted 
(28, p. 299), faces this question as a general theme for the two genera 
of fungi. Miss Stoneman (50) had previously noted the sudden 
appearance .of setz in cultures of Gloeosporium fructigenum, and 
Kriiger had also observed this phenomenon in his cultures of the 
above and other Gloeosporia. . 
Frank (19) had noted occasional lack of setz in Colletotrichum 
lindemuthianum and Miss Stoneman had noted the same in cultures 
of three species, including Colletotrichum lagenarium. Potebnia 
(38) later noted the occasional lack of sete in some acervuli of the 
latter fungus. Kriger (28, p.299), working with the fungus of bean 
anthracnose, confirmed Frank’s observation and claimed to have 
developed at will setose and nonsetose strains. He found that the 
age of the culture and the nature and moisture content of the sub- 
stratum acted as controlling factors and concluded that the presence 
or absence of sete can not be depended upon as a decisive generic 
distinction in this group of fungi. Kriiger urges the necessity of 
some other basis of differentiation, such as cultural characters. 
Shear and Wood (45) in 1913 divided the anthracnoses of 45 hosts 
into five species, of which three are Glomerellae and two are Gloeo- 
sporia. Of the latter, one is G. lagenarium (Pass.) Sacce. and Roum. 
on watermelon, cucumber, and squash. Im the whole group of 
fungi studied they noticed (45, p. 64) that there was great variation 
as to the presence, absence, and abundance of sete in cultures from 
the same host and evenfrom the same spore. They also noticed that 
there was variation in size, length, and septation of setz. In the 
form from cucumber they noted setz sometimes present in culture, 
and in the form from watermelon setz were abundant in lesions and 
in culture. Sete were sometimes present in squash lesicus. 
Carsner! in 1914, using a strain isolated from a muskmelon fruit, 
found no sets present and was inclined to retain the name Gloeo- 
sporium. 
Eriksson (16, p. 125) studied the fungus causing the disease on 
greenhouse cucumbers in Sweden, found sete present, and as a result 
of a rather careful review of the literature retained Halsted’s name, 
Colletotrichum. 3 
To sum up the situation relative to the nomenclature of this fun- 
gus, we have difficulties arising from several sources: (1) Synonyms, 
of which Colletotrichum oligochaetum Cav.is an example. (2) Fungi of 
uncertain identity, such as Gloeosporium orbiculore Berk. and Volu- 
tella citrulli Stoneman. (3) Halsted’s theory that the bean and cucur- 
i1Carsner, E. Op. cit. 
