The Microconidia of Botrytis Cinerea. Studies from the Pathological Laboratory VII

Introduction.-In1887 Lindner* observed that the cell contents in old hyphae of Botrytis cinerea occasionally contracted away from the cell wall, and subsequently developed either into the adjoining cells or into the surrounding medium, giving rise to flask-shaped sterigmata bearing a chain of minute conidia at their tips.An excellent delineation of this microsporogeny is given in figure 13 of plate vii. of his work.Kl6cker and Schonningt also briefly noted the existence of " spermaties," and considered them to be an abnormal spore form.In 1903 Lorrain SmithT described a disease of the gooseberry caused by Botrytis cinerea, and remarked that "in the test-tube culture the gelatine was liquefied near the surface.The liquid was filled with spores that had become yeast cells, and were budding out in great numbers."The same year Beauverie and Guilliermond?published a detailed account of the cytology of the mycelium of Botrytis cinerea.They observed the formation of "sporidies" when the fungus was grown in bouillon, peptone, and distilled water.