Wheat Rust and Bérberry Rust

Abstract

In considering the question of the influence of the berberry on the production of rust in wheat, assuming that De Bary's observations are perfectly correct, it is necessary to consider the nature of what is commonly called “rust” in cereals. Presuming that his views are strongly confirmed by the analogous connection of Ræstelia cancellata, the pear blight, with the gelatinous parasite of Funiperus sabina, it is well to attend to the following facts:—Professor Henslow in an article on the diseases of wheat, in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, proved distinctly that what is commonly called rust is merely a condition of the common mildew, and this at a time when comparatively little was known about these parasites, and when many were inclined to accept the views of Unger that they were mere abnormal developments of tissue or spontaneous growths. The observations of Tulasne and others confirmed to a certain extent Professor Henslow's view, but threw further light upon the matter by showing that many so called Uredos were merely a subsidiary form of so many species of Puccinia. Meanwhile, though Uredo rubigo vera was the subsidiary form of Puccinia graminis, it was recognised that Uredo linearis is nothing more than the early stage of the Puccinia. Though there is some resemblance between the Uredinoid form of the Puccinia and the rust of the berberry, there is none between the perfect condition of the parasite. Our readers will have noticed that at the meeting of the French Academy on August 1st, M. Roze contributed some further illustrations of this interesting subject.