May 26. Z923 
Graminicolous Species of Helminthosporium 
695 
correspond accurately with those noted later by Atanasoff and Johnson 
(j) on seedlings grown from seed infected with H.sativum. 
In 1918, Palm (loi) reported from Java the occurrence of a species 
of Helminthosporium on wheat which he designated as Helminthosporium 
gramineum ([Rabh.] Eriks.?). The fungus was found present on the 
glumes as well as on the perceptibly shrunken kernels, through the 
agency of which the author believed the infection to be transmitted. 
The statements relating to the long worm-shaped, usually curved, 6-to 
lo-septate spores measuring 65 to no ju in length, and 15 to 20 g, in 
width, and more especially the accompanying figures, indicate that the 
Javan fungus differs conspicuously from the parasite causing stripe but 
shows complete similarity to sativum, as it occurs on the same host 
in this country. 
Considerable attention has been given during recent years to a diseased 
condition found prevalent on wheat in the vicinity of Granite City, Ill. 
Stevens {140) recognized the trouble as a typical footrot whi^ he 
attributed to a species of Helminthosporium found constantly associated 
with it and producing luxuriant gro\^ on a variety of substrata. The 
conidia were described as structures approaching a narrow or broadly 
elliptical shape measuring 24 to 122 /t, usually 80 to 90jit, in length; 
containing from o to 13, usually 5 to 10, septa or false septa; possessing 
an outer thin dark wall and an iimer colorless thick wall; and germinating 
by the production of one or two polar germ tubes. The causal relation 
of the fungus with the disease presumably was established, moreover, 
by successful inoculation of the unwounded intemodes of wheat seedlings. 
When wheat seeds were inoculated with spores of the fungus and germi¬ 
nated in a seed tester, the host tissue was quickly invaded, leading to the 
production of brownish spots, and under favorable conditions to general 
rotting and death of the innermost leaves {141)- Inoculation of the 
roots was followed by invasion and discoloration of the cortex. 
McKhmey {86), who also carried on studies near Granite City, Ill., 
similarly found a species of Helminthosporium present on wheat, asso¬ 
ciated with lesions often developing during the later stages of the disease. 
Apparently, however, he did not regard the latter primarily as a foot rot, 
but rather as a trouble having somewhat different symptoms which, at 
least during the early spring stages, was not found constantly associated 
either with any perceptible lesions or with any specific organisms what¬ 
ever, In a later note, McKinney {8y) states that all the strains of Hel¬ 
minthosporium isolated from wheat appear to be similar, if not identical, 
not only to one another, but also to H, sativum derived from barley leaves 
affected with spotblotch. And this similarity was found to obtmn with 
reference to the morphology of the fungi from the two sources as well as 
to their pathological properties as evidenced in cross inoculation experi¬ 
ments. ^ 
A critical study of a Helminthosporium disease of wheat and rye was 
published recently by L. J. Stakman {138). The malady, which was 
unusually common in Minnesota in 1919, was manifested early in the 
season as a seedling blight, characterized by brown discoloration of the 
roots, either in extensive patches or in numerous small irregular lesions; 
by the presence of rust-brown streaks or blotches on the 'Toot^* or base 
of the stem, later progressing to the inner sheaths; and by a general 
dwarfing of the plants, the leaves of which were conspicuously stunted, 
very narrow and pale reddish tan in color. Many of the affected plants 
