A blind-seed disease of globe artichoke

A blind-seed disease of globe artichoke

Notes and briefarticles L. S. (1970). Aflatoxin production as affected by environmental conditions. Journal of Food Science 35, 389-391, JAY, E. G. & ...

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Notes and briefarticles L. S. (1970). Aflatoxin production as affected by environmental conditions. Journal of Food Science 35, 389-391, JAY, E. G. & PEARMAN, G. C. (1973). Carbon dioxide for control of an insect infestation in stored corn (maize).Journalof Stored Products Research 9, 25-29. PEARSON, N. K. & SORENSEN, J. W. (1970). Use of gaseous nitrogen for controlling stored product insects in cereal grains. CerealChemistry 47,679-682. PONS, W. A. (1976). Mycotoxins:resolution of afla-

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toxins Bu B., G 1, and G 2 by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 59, 101-109. SHIH, C. N. & MARTH, E. H. (1974). Some cultural conditions that control biosynthesis of lipid and aflatoxin by Aspergillus parasiticus, Applied Microbiology 27, 452-456. WILSON, D. M. & JAY, E. (1975). Influence of modified atmosphere storage on aflatoxin production in high moisture corn. Applied Microbiology 29, 224-228.

A BLIND-SEED DISEASE OF GLOBE ARTICHOKE A. L. J. COLE Department of Botany, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

While collecting seeds from the seed heads of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) it was noted that many seeds were easily split open by gentle compression. Within these seeds a single, large, nearly spherical, black sclerotium had replaced the entire contents of the seed (Fig. 1). The outer coat of the seed appeared normal in every respect and the infected seeds were indistinguishable from healthy seeds. This disease could be classified as a true blind-seed disease. In some seeds examined

from adjacent seed heads sclerotia were found on the seed coat and within the seed, having only partially replaced the endosperm. Sclerotia were germinated on sterile glass microscope slides in a moist chamber at 20°C. Hyphae developing from sclerotia were transferred to potato-dextrose agar plates and incubated at 25°. In all cases the resultant mycelial growth and sclerotium formation closely resembled that of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) DeBary.

OCCURRENCE OF BASIDIOMYCETES ON ARSENIC-TOXIC MINE WASTE L. M. BENSON, R. L. EVANS AND P. J. PETERSON Department of Botany and Biochemistry, Westfield College, University of London, Kidderpore Avenue, London NW3 7ST

Arsenic, together with copper and tin, have been mined and smelted in Devon and Cornwall, S.W. England, for several centuries. Several spoil heaps of the associated waste materials, containing high levels of arsenic, have remained undisturbed since the early twentieth century. Investigations into the biogeochemistry of arsenic, on a range of these derelict arsenic toxic sites, have been in progress over the past six years (Porter & Peterson, 1975, 1977a, b). Until the sitings reported here, no macro-fungi were observed on any of the sites. However, Pyatt (1973) observed sporophores of Laccaria laccata on a similar site. In 1977 and 1978, during regular visits to the spoil areas, fruit bodies of the following species were collected and identified from Gawton United Mine site (grid ref. 5 x 453688): Amanita muscaria (L. ex Fr.) Hooker; Lactarius rufus (Scop. ex Fr.) Fr.; Paxillus inuolutus (Batsch ex Fr.) Fr.; Trans. Br, mycol. Soc. 74 (1), (1980).

Scleroderma citrinum Pers.; Thelephora terrestris Ehrh. ex Fr.; Laccaria laccata (Scop. ex Fr.) Cooke; Leccinum scabrum (Bull. ex Fr.) S. F. Gray. No macro-fungi were found on any of the other sites visited in 1977 but isolated specimens of P. inoolutus, L. laccata and L. scabrum were recorded from other sites in 1978. The fruitbodies were growing directly out of the steep face of the spoil and smelter tip material and in places up to 6 m from the nearest green plants. Tree roots were not evident immediately below or near to fruitbodies though extensive digging was not carried out. The fungi were only present on the sides and base of the spoil which were otherwise uncolonized. The top of the tip was sparsely colonized by Agrostis tenuis, A. stolonifera and in parts by Calluna vulgaris. The site was surrounded by woodland comprising Betula pubescens and Quercus species with a ground

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