Brier ley. — Spore Germination in Onygena equina , Willd. 1 3 1 
such treatment. It would appear, therefore, that Marshall Ward’s partial 
failure in obtaining germination must be set down to some accessory factor. 
Some general conditions affecting spore germination. It may be of 
interest to record a few observations on the more general factors condition- 
ing the germination of spores of Onygena equina. 
It is well known that treatment with certain acids markedly stimulates 
the germination of particular fungus spores, 1 and it seemed therefore of 
interest to ascertain whether the immediate germination of ascospores of 
Onygena after treatment with artificial gastric juice is to be attributed to 
the digestive action of the latter, or whether it is merely due to the stimu- 
lative effect of the hydrochloric acid. 
Accordingly observations were made on parallel series of experiments 
with spores treated in several ways. In the first series the spores were 
immersed in various strengths of pepsine solution ; 2 in the second in various 
strengths of hydrochloric acid ; 3 and in the third in artificial gastric juice. 
As a check three other series were arranged, in one of which the spores 
were immersed in water, and in the remaining two in various strengths of 
acetic acid and of lactic acid. 4 After varying periods of time 6 spores from 
each series were transferred to Van Tieghem cells containing hanging drops 
of glue, and placed in a dark cupboard at room temperature. The results 
were very striking in that only those ascospores which had been treated 
with gastric juice germinated ; and there can be no doubt therefore that 
the digestive action of this fluid is directly responsible for the stimulation of 
the spores to immediate development. 
Full-grown unripe ascospores when immersed in gastric juice at 
a temperature of 23 0 C. for three hours germinated normally. Six hours’ 
digestion reduced their germinative capacity by about 15 per cent, and 
produced many abnormal germ tubes, whilst twelve hours’ immersion almost 
completely inhibited germination. Ripe ascospores were rendered incapable 
of germination by digestion for twenty-four hours at 23° C., and their germi- 
native capacity greatly reduced by fifteen hours’ immersion, these results 
being approximately true for the chlamydospores also. 
The effect of a low temperature is well marked. In situ in the closed 
fructification the spores are able to withstand repeated freezings, and lost no 
power of germination when frozen in a solid block of ice on three successive 
nights. If, however, the spores are in a state of suspension in water or air- 
dried from such a suspension on a glass slide, they are markedly less 
resistant, and after fifteen hours’ exposure to a temperature below zero or 
remaining for that period of time frozen in ice, all power of germination is 
lost. The chlamydospores are slightly more resistant than the ascospores, 
1 See B. M. Duggar : Physiological Studies with reference to the Germination of certain 
Fungus Spores. Bot. Gaz., vol. xxxi, pp. 38-66, Jan. 1901. 
2 0-1 %, 0-2 %, 0.4 %, 0*8 %, i*c %, 3-0 %. 3 0*2 %, 0.4 %, o*6 %, o*8 %, i*o %, 3*0 %. 
4 Series as HC 1 . 5 1 hr., 3 hrs., 6 hrs., 9 hrs , 15 hrs., 24 hrs. 
K 3 
