Cornell University Library OF THE Hew Work State College of Agriculture e..323.9% =e 1820 SB 624.03S4 ii BULLETIN OF THE Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station NoumsBer 214 ‘Marcu, 1910. A BRIEF HANDBOOK OF THE DISEASES OF , CULTIVATED PLANTS IN OHIO By A. D. SELBY INTRODUCTION The idea of disease is not a simple one, though it may seem so before trying to define it. In reality the term “‘disease’’ as applied to plants, means any change in that plant toward reduced vigor, etc., from the ordinary or average behavior. To put it another way, a plant is said to be ‘‘diseased’”’ when it shows any deviation from the ordinary or average behavior of that plant in respect to appearance, growth, color of bark, foliage, fruitfulness, time of dropping leaves or length of life; in short, when the plant fails to conform to those averages which we have established by extended observation for the species and variety in question, we say it is diseased. Under such a general definition, variegated or purple hued sports would be included, although potentially rather than actually in diminished -vigor. Variegated sports succumb easily to parasitic attack and, as later investigations show, are really suffering from enzymatic troubles. The more usual symptoms of disease are marked by evident differences in the plant. The leaves become spotted, curled or discolored, or may even drop prematurely; the fruit may develop unevenly or be marked by decayed spots, or the twigs may blight, wilt or die. In all such cases we have a manifest loss of vigor and reduced profit. Yet we may not attribute all these to parasitic fungi or to parasitic insects; purely physical or chemical agencies may be at the bottom of certain troubles. Plants may be as- phyxiated by too much water which excludes the air supply; they may likewise, be strangled by escaping gases, especially in the case of city shade trees, or their protoplasm may be attacked by chemi- (307) vy 308 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 cal agents such as strong acids and alkalis. Quick growing plants appear to fall in drought, as with cucumbers when started during a period of excessive rains. Plants, and especially trees, may be locally injured by winter freezing, by hail, by overbearing with ex- haustion of water supply, and by a variety of causes. While we must keep our minds open to these varying causes of impaired vigor, by far the larger number of the diseases described in this bulletin are directly attributable to parasitic fungi which attack the plant or host in some vital part and rob it of its substance. The conditions of injury arising from the attacks of insects alone are not included. These fungus parasites of particular plants are of differing sorts, which produce, each, its more or less particular effects. It must follow, therefore, that the diseases produced differ in nature and that the names applied will vary accordingly. The names are not simply blight, rust, etc., indiscriminately applied—they are given with reference both to the parasite and its effect on the host plant.* Parasitic fungi and bacteria which cause disease, being plants, though of lower class, have differences among themselves which may be clearly designated and defined. ‘The names applied to them are accompanied by specific and generic descriptions which mark off the sort as definitely as do the descriptions on higher plants such as ferns, flowering plants and trees. The extreme minuteness of the parts of parasitic fungi and bacteria make necessary the use of the microscope in their description and detection. ‘The parts called spores which reproduce these minute plants have special form, size, etc., by which these are recognized when found. The agencies for the spread of parasitic diseases are those operations in which we engage or those which surround and envelop the plantsas well as ourselves. Light spores will be carried by currents of air like particles of dust. Allspores or germs of these lower plants may be carried by numerous agencies such as insects, higher animals, and man. They willalso find entrance into plants by whatever openings exist at the time. The epidermis of a green leaf or stem has breathing pores or stomates init; the leaves of mustard plants have water pores in them and wounded plants have these freshopenings to invite the entrance of the disease conveying spores or germs. The remedies for plant diseases are based upon the character and life history of the particular parasitic growth with which we have to deal and upon the nature of the host plant itself—some hosts being very different from others in respect to permitting of sprays of fungicides or insecticides. Common sense inferences are * See naming of diseases. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 309 always of use in dealing with plant diseases. If the soil is too wet, drain it; if late growth predisposes to winter injury, avoid such growth; if overbearing weakens plants, prevent, it by thinning the fruit. The philosophy of seed treatments is stated under diseases which infest the seed; that of soil treatments or disinfection, under soil infesting disease, and the general doctrines of sprays, fungi- cides, etc., under that heading further on. The progress made in plant disease prevention throughout the world during the period of about 26 years which has elapsed since the discovery of Bordeaux mixture in France shows how well adapted that discovery was to the needs of the times. The progress made in recent years in the study and control of plant diseases has been made possible by the agencies recently developed in the United States in the Agricultural Colleges, the Agricultural Experiment Stations and the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture. Itis not expected that this advance in our knowledge of the diseases of plants or of the methods of disease control will soon wane. Efforts like the present one to present briefly the doctrines of disease and the philosophy of disease con- trol together with brief descriptions of prevailing diseases in our state, have for their purpose the wider dissemination of the body of present day knowledge int’ ¢ lines. Such a statement will not close the march of progr nor make less the need for more knowledge. Itis hopedt ‘cultivators of plants, whether farmers, gardeners, horticulturists or florists will find suggestive statements of information in the bulletin by which they can direct their own efforts to better advantage and correct or broaden their own in- ferences from observed conditions about them. All such results will not only increase the need for more knowledge, but will furnish impetus to the movements by which we will gain the desired information. In the preparation of the revised edition of the original Bulletin, No. 121, the general part immediately following this introduction has been considerably enlarged and brief discussions are now given concerning groups of plant diseases as well as those concerning parasitic fungi. It is fully apprehended that the host plant is the center of practical as well as economic interest and these statements concerning enzymatic diseases as in the case of peach yellows and mosaic disease of tobacco, diseases transmitted in the seed, soil infesting diseases, and the relation of the spread of certain diseases to leaf biting insects are given as aids in mastering the principles involved. ‘The same aim has governed the discussions upon wounds 310 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 and wound fungi so especially dangerous with orchard, shade and forest trees. Somewhat fuller discussion of atmospheric agencies as affecting the occurrence and spread of plant diseases, of remedies for diseased conditions and of the application of the latter in combatting diseases and a presentation of storage troubles has also seemed desirable. Special attention is called tothe host plant in the matter of breeding or selection for disease resistance and in the contrasts offered by American and European points of view in plant disease study. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The illustrations in this bulletin have been drawn from wider sources than in the previous hand book. A large number, including perhaps, a larger portion of the cuts, are taken from previous pub- lications of this Station by Weed, Miss Detmers, and the writer; small cuts have been at times made from certain larger illustrations while with others only portions of the original cut have been used. A great many of the illustrations are new, and I am deeply in- debted to Messrs. J. M. Van Hook and Thos. F. Manns for many of the photographs from which these have been made. I am also -in- debted to Professors Halsted of New Brunswick, N. J., and Atkin- son of Ithaca, N. Y., and to the Bureau of Plant Industry of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for many favors in the matter of cuts which are used in the Bulletin. Figures 24, 25, and 26 are from Dr. Freeman’s ‘‘Minnesota Plant Diseases.” For permission to reproduce these, I am indebted to Prof. Frederick E. Clements, of ‘the University of Minnesota. In all cases where it is not otherwise obvious, it has been the aim to state the source of the illustrations in the ‘descriptions. The same applies to illustrations reproduced from standard works. In many matters connected with recent investigations of the Department bearing upon diseases included in this present bulletin, and upon current examinations, I am under many obligations to Thos. F. Manns, Assistant Botanist, who has rendered very great assistance. GENERAL PART I CONCERNING PLANT DISEASES IN GENERAL As defined in the introduction, a plant is called diseased when it fails to show normal vigor and normal condition of its parts. ‘The manner of disease attack is extremely varied and the conditions set up as a result of disease are accordingly of many different kinds. We learn to recognize disease by the symptoms shown in the plant; these symptoms will at times be readily interpreted and on other occasions they will prove misleading. Nothing is plainer than the necessity for continuous observation of growing plants if one is to be in a position to interpret the symptoms of disease. Fig. 1. Rootsof white burley tobacco plant attacked by broom-rape. Each of these masses attached to the root shows beginning of the plant which will grow upin larger dense form, and pro- duce an abundance of blossoms and seeds but no leaves. Each one of these must have started from a buried seed of the broom-rape, Orobanche Ludoviciana Nutt. Diseased conditions may be due tothe very obvious attacks of certain parasitic seed plants which lack leaf-green or chlorophyll'in their tissues and must subsist on other plants somewhat after the manner of parasitic fungi. ‘The dodders which attack the clovers, alfalfa, onions, etc., belong in the class of parasitic seed plants of the genus Cuscuta. Their seeds are liable to be harvested with the ‘ (311) 312 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 seeds of clover or alfalfa and to be present in the commercial seeds. While these have been treated in the weed manual they require mention here. The seedling plant of dodder first forms a root and sends upward a whitish stem which twines about the clover or other stem, and sends sucking branches into the stem interior. ‘These “‘haustoria’ extract food material from the clover stem—that is they rob it of its own substance. Upon the formation of such organs the root of the dodder dies off and the future ex- istence of these twining, strawlike stems is at the expense of the host plant. A similar state of parasitic existence is found in the broomrape tribe whose very small seeds are scattered through the soil. Such a broomrape is well known on hemp, and the same hemp broomrape also attacks tobacco in Kentucky and possibly in our state. We have found another broomrape attacking tobacco in one district of Brown county, Ohio, and the illustration shows its appearance on the tobacco roots. When the leaves of a plant are attacked these show the direct effects; the symptoms of parasitic leaf diseases are usually localized injury resulting in spotting and often in browning of the leaf parts. Leaves may dry up somewhat slowly and drop to the earth, and yet the leaf tissues are simply dried up. Such conditions may result from late frost as upon shade, fruit, or ornamental trees. A most interesting case was once studied upon catalpa as a result of a frost in May. In that case the drying up was none the less to be expected at that time. An even more interesting case of leaf drying and dropping was upon young catalpa trees ina nursery caused by the attacks of a root-rot fungus, 7hzelavia. Owing to the death of many of the rootlets and finer roots as a result of the root-rot trouble, the leaves of these young trees dried up prematurely in August and Septem- ber and the leaves all dropped off. Thus we may have leaf dropping as a result of frost, injury by hail, nor impairment or localized parasitic attack. LEAF SPOT AND SHOT-HOLE EFFECTS Leaf-spot symptoms are everywhere abundant and are really of very diverse origin. In any example in which the leaf tissues are locally invaded by a parasitic fungus we may expect evident effects. In the downy mildew troubles there may be wet-rot symptoms when the weather is moist, as in the case of Phytophthora or late blight attacking potato or tomato leaves; after the leaves have be- come badly diseased they may appear to die very suddenly because DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS the gradual invasion of the areas has been overlooked. In many other leaf diseases no such rapid multiplication or reproduction of the parasite is possible and limited dead patches or spots are the result. The leaf-spot disease of alfalfa, the various leaf-spots of apple and the conspicuous leaf-spot of the strawberry, the beet, the pea, etc., will be recalled. In these while the leaves are im- paired as to usefulness they do not perish immediately and one may readily fail to estimate the injury at its real seriousness. In a few leaf troubles we have the spotting of the leaf followed by the for- mation of a separation layer in the leaf tissues between the para- sitized and the healthy tissues. This results in ‘“‘shot holes” in the leaves as is so very conspicuous in the shot-hole leaf disease of the plum and less conspicuously so on certain sour cherry. trees. These leaf troubles are commonly very evident during rainy seasons and are preventable by spraying the foliage of the diseased plants at repeated intervals, thus keeping a supply of the fungicide on the leaves to arrest renewed spore development. An interesting leaf-spot disease of the tomato is sometimes very damaging. This disease seems to have appeared in Ohio during the memory of many close observers. Like most leaf-spot troubles which are strictly due to parasitic fungi, this tomato disease has been worst in seasons of abundant rainfall. The same applies to the shot-hole disease of the plum and the allied leaf-spot of cherry. The explanation appears to lie in more favorable conditions for spore germination and for the growth or spread of the parasitic organisms which produce the diseased conditions. Biting or sucking insects also open the way for the entrance of parasitic diseases, (See later pages.) LEAF IMPAIRMENT THROUGH FUNGUS COVERINGS In addition to the leaf-spots or dead areas in leaves to which reference has just been made, we have most noticeable examples of the spread of the mycelium of certain powdery mildews over the leaf surfaces. Casual observers note that these spread over the leaves and stems of roses, over the leaves of lilac, of oak, of peach, of grape, of forcinghouse cucumbers, of bean and pea and upon other plants. While the development of these fungi or powdery mildews occurs often rather late in the season, they are nevertheless damaging to the host plant over which they spread. Above and beyond the interference with the leaf action the impairment of the photosynthetic or sunlight processes of the leaves of the plants by which all real increase in substance is made to the plants, these mildews develop sucking or penetrating organs of the threads of 314 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 the mycelium. These organs called haustoria penetrate the leaf epidermis and must do this for the purpose of food extraction—it is needless to add that all food extraction from the plant acts as robbery. f Furthermore, the mildew-covered leaves drop to the ground in fall and there afford the fungus the ‘needed conditions for the development of the resting or winter stages of its course by which ‘it is again ready to attack the plants the following season. Because so largely external in development these powdery mildews are usually comparatively easy of control. WILT DISEASES—SEEDLING COLLAPSE The stems or branches of plants may suffer from localized attack by parasitic fungias wellas from hail, insect attack and -mechanical agencies. The symptoms which follow will be found characteristic. In certain ones as in the clover anthracnose and in the fusarium of clover stems, we have the lesions accompanied by discolorations in which the fungus occupies a subordinate place outwardly. ‘On the other hand the spots or sorz of the rusts upon grains and grasses and the spots caused by the anthracnose of wheat, oats, rye, etc. show commonly a crowded occupation of the area by the parasitic fungus. _ ‘There are many examples of the effects of such lesions. Fuller discussions will be found under the description of the par- ticular diseases. ‘The anthracnose of the bean as well as that of the pea are good illustrations where these attack seedlings. Even -clearer symptoms come out in potato rosette where the fungus parasite at early stages of growth may kill off the stem attacked, while in later attack will cause such impaired development of the plant that stem or axial lengthening is arrested and a “rosette” appearance results. A still more striking arrest of stem elongation takes place in lettuce rosette wherein the roots are destroyed so largely by the fungus in the soil. (See soil infesting diseases.) In cankers of branches upon orchard trees the final death of the immediate branch is preceded by a depressed area invaded by by the parasite. PLANT DISEASES NOT BEYOND EXPLANATION The old mystery attached to disease prevalence can scarcely be maintained in our day. We have worked out in recent years or had determined for us the causal relations between the ferment or parasite and the effects upon the host plant or crop. So far as we can now discover the reason for the spread of diseases, or of a DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 315 particular disease, is found in the specific disarrangemen\. in the host plants. This discovery and announcement of these causal relations are undertaken that proper measures for the control of diseases may be finally devised and applied. We must always bear in mind that under favorable conditions plant diseases become epi- demic and their rapid spread is to be expected. The host plant, with its climatic adaptations and the parasites of our crops with their mutual adaptations to their hosts are biolog- ical factors which are capable of being influenced by prevailing atmospheric conditions. With cool,'rainy.weather we have brought about conditions favorable to certain parasitic diseases which will be inclined to spread while these continue. Other diseases spread under the conditions which favor them. The more rapid development of diseases of plants under these favoring circumstances is not beyond reasonable understanding; there is no mystery about it any more than in outbreaks of typhoid fever or diphtheria. By apprehending the differing conditions we may learn to separate the causal from the merely adventitious factors and thus be the better able to master the diseases which result. While we may properly look upon infection by microscopic or other parasites as the general and usual cause of plant diseases, there are diseases of wide importance which arise from internal or physiological disarrangements in the plant. (See Enzymatic. Dis- eases). In all cases whether of parasitic attack or of physiological disarrangement due to other causes, the host plant is weakened and predisposed to death. GROUPS OF PARASITIC DISEASES Parasitic diseases may be grouped ina way, according to the groups of fungi which cause them. ‘This is helpful to the plant pathologist, though of limited practical guidance, since it requires microscopic study to determine the causal organisms. A more useful, limited grouping as is hoped, is proposed below and consists in making such groups or classes of diseases, as are descriptive of the general behavior. Such are seedinfesting diseases, soil infest- ing diseases, root diseases, diseases of foliage, wound troubles, timber rots, etc. The great mass of diseases are treated under each host in the descriptive portion arranged alphabetically. The objects to be attained by this method of arrangement are obvious and call for no discussion. NAMING PLANT DISEASES Plant diseases are named with due regard to the symptoms and cause of the disease. In the case of enzymatic diseases wherein we have peculiar variations or yellowing of the leaves, the names given are mare ar lece deerrintive ‘The same applies to the diseases that al 316 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Parasitic diseases are named with regard to the organisms which cause the disease, or to the effects they produce in the host parts, that is, those diseases which result from attacks of the rust fungi, (Uredineaae), are properly called rusts; also the smutty, dirty conditions resulting from the attacks of the smut fungi, (Usti/agineae), are known everywhere as smuts; these are well known and destructive upon grassesand cereals. Thus we have smuts of oats, corn, wheat, broom corn, sorghum, millet, blue-grass, etc. The anthracnoses are produced by a definite class of fungi, (Melanconiae). The name anthracnose is applied to a disease of a given host caused by an organism of this group and the host name is usually retained, as the anthracnose of wheat, the anthracnose of rye, the anthracnose of raspberry, wherein the dis- eases are caused by species of this group of parasitic fungi. However, in the case of attack. Fig.2. Headorpan- Upon the fruit as in the anthracnose of apple, © icle of oats destroyed because of the by loose smut. All the . i" oat kernels and many bitter taste given of their surrounding 1 p parts have been con- fo the fruit, ae Q oN o verted into black, sooty have the popular \ y] (smutty) masses by the name bitter - rot; Q i): KN loose smut fungus, , ane ee a At\§ dy A ly WINS Ustilago. in a similar in- 5 i WAX So stance, viz., that CLI of the anthrac- Fig. 3. Section through an anthracnose nose of the grapeberry, the dis- spot (acervulus) of the cucumber anthracnose 1 h 3 fungus (Colletotrichnm lagenarium) showing colorations of fruit are SO _ thetong, dark hairs (setae) of whose office we characteristic that it is popularly Ca Sie sesre easing Brseehes ee “ % yphae) and the spores of this fungus. The called the birds-eye rot. With members of that division of the commoner wheat, oats, rye, etc, thename is @nthracnoses having setae in the acervuliare lied b ‘i "referred to the genus Codletotrichum, while applie ecause of the organisms similar ones without setae bear the genus found. As statedin the preceding 8mes @/ocosportum, Sphaceloma, etc. (See ‘ anthracnoses of apple, grape, lettuce, wheat, pages, we describe most leaf ats, etc). Serra! infesting diseases with regard to the effects the parasites have upon the host; thus we have the leaf-spot dis- ease resulting from attacks of any one of a number of fungi, chiefly, however, belonging to the imperfect forms. The shot-hole fungus of the plum is a good illustration of the naming of a trouble from the symptoms produced. A considerable group of diseases are known as downy mildews. Among these we have the destructive potato late blight and rot, Phytophthora; also the cucumber disease, Plasmopara, as well as the DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 317 grape downy mildew and the common white molds of the mustard family. ‘The powdery mildews by reason of the appearance upon the surface of parts attacked, are descriptively named ‘‘mildews.” A definite system has been followed in most cases of naming plant diseases and I trust the results will not be altogether disappointing. The differences between the species of parasitic or other fungi are as strongly marked as those of higher plants, even though microscopic examination is necessary to distinguish these char- acters; it shows, therefore, that a discriminative system of naming diseases has a secure foundation. THE PLANT OR HOST IN RELATION TO DISEASE As stated elsewhere only closely related plants are usually subject to attack by a para- sitic organism, thus it hap- pens that the tomato as well as the potato plants are attacked by the downy mildew or late blight fungus of the potato. In general the true parasites among our fungi are limited toa rather narrow range of host plants; thus we may expect the potato Phytophthora to attack several plants of the potato family (So/anaceae). The writer proved thissame was true of the attacks of downy mildew(Plasmopara) upon a number of species belonging to the cucumber family (Curcurbitaceae). Since our cereal grains belong to the same great Fig. 4. Avportion of the epidermis from the upper 1 he grasses (Gram- surface of a cucumber leaf, showing the breathing pores family ast g ( a (stomates) surrounded by guard cells containing chloro- -eneue), we expect, and find phyll grains, much magnified. These guard cells, which that there is a development control the opening and closing of the stomates, are the Z only epidermal cells that contain this green substance, of the same diseases Upon _ the others being colorless. many of them and upon the ‘ grasses growing nearby. In this connection it must be remembered that clover and alfalfa are not grasses, but legumes. ‘The leaves of the host plant provided as they are with stomates or breathing pores, minute openings through the epidermal cover- ing of the leaf, will be attacked through these openings. The spores 318 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION; BULLETIN 214 of parasitic fungi after germinating upon the leaf will likely gain entrance into the interior leaf tissues through these openings much more readily than by actual boring through the leaf epidermis. The illustration, Fig. 4, shows how these openings are distributed in the epidermis of a cucumber leaf. These stomates are present in _ the leaf covering upon the outside of all green leaves and in the epidermis of young growing shoots. In addition to these stomates certain classes of plants such as the plants of the mustard family (Cruciferae), as cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, also the grape, fuchsia, impat- iens, etc., are provided with water pores—mar- ginal openings through which the excess water of the plants isexcreted. ‘These water solutions of various materials offer a means of growth for organisms, especially of the minuter forms. From the culture drops thus formed the para- site enters the leaf by the water pores. One of the most destructive known diseases of plants is the black-rot of cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, ruta-baga, etc. This is due to a bacterium which gains entrance very largely through the water pores just described. So we must bear in mind that the very avenues of transpiration or excre- tion, so essential toplant growth,are madeameans of exposing the plant to the danger of parasitic in- vasion. ‘This is analogous to the exposure of human subject to diseases of the respiratory organs. Atevery turn we find convincing evi- Fig. 5. Margin of cab- bage leaf showing excreted water from water pores after cool night. These drops contain enough food for the growth of the black rot bacteria. The motile forms may swim through the water pores into leaf from such drops. Dead marginal areas on lower fragment show results of this bacterial infection. (After Smith). be maintained, dences of the mutual adaptation of parasitic fungi to their host plants, in nothing more strongly marked than in the limitation of the species of plants attacked by a given parasite as discussed in the beginning of this paragraph. In view of the fact that so long as the leaves of a plant continue to function as leaves, these natural openings will it will be seen that the risk of exterior infection from parasitic fungiis continuous for any given plant; it lasts for its whole growing period. THE PLANT'S PROTECTION AGAINST PARASITES In the case of woody growths we have the development of corky epidermis or bark which seems primarily designed to protect the interior, living layer from invasions of this sort. In a similar DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 319 manner the external layer or bark of all growing plants, inciading herbs, is provided with a protective covering or epidermis. The skin of the apple or of the grapeand the covering of the potato stem are allfamiliar and serve this function of protection to the inner tissues. In young plants there is retained the power of protective growth in response or resistance to parasitic attack; thus it happens that the potato scab organism induces the growth of cork cells on the outside of the potato and makes a roughness. The roughness is is not the scab fungus but the corky growth of the tubers in response to the scab attack. Inasimilar manner the attack of the scab fungus upon the apple results in the roughening of the apple skin through the development of more protective or wound cork. The most remarkable example of this multiplication of protecting or outer cells in response to the attacks of parasitic fungi is found in “leaf-curl” of the peach and in the pockets or “bladders” of the plum, where we have such a rapid multiplication of cells in response to the stimulus of the fungus as to bring about an entire transformation in the form and structure of the parts. While we may think of this abnormal development as the result ‘of fungous growth, it is only indirectly so. It isin fact a response of the host to the stimulus of the invading fungus. The nature of the stimulus or excitation exerted by particular parasitic fungi isa highly interesting subject for investigation. DISEASE RESISTANCE IN PLANTS Disease resistance and disease susceptibility are as yet imper- fectly understood. ‘The cause of the inherent differences in the tendency of this or that variety to suffer, as with the leaf-curl in the Elberta variety of peach, the apple scab predisposition in White Pippin, Winesap and others, may become in practice, varietal weaknesses. Yetsuch is the commercial super- iority of some such varieties that they increase in public favor despite these weaknesses. The great differences among varieties of fruit in susceptibility tothe diseases which prevail under certain conditions, is a matter of observation and experience, From the difficulties involved in breeding a less susceptible or more resistant type of tree fruit belonging to any commercial variety, increased resistance is not yet within reach. This applies to established varie- ties and yet leaves the field open for new sports to be discovered or for its occupation by less desirable sorts which do not suffer so severely from disease. This actually happens in the growing of pears outside of certain favored districts; owing to the ravages of fire blight, a bacterial disease, the ordinary grower selects less popular but more resistant varieties for culture. 320 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 In the study of disease susceptibility it has been shown that other features being the same, the percentage of water is an index: thus, parts having the higher water content are attacked more read- ily than those with lower water content. With annual plants or those reproduced each year by tubers or seed, the opportunities to breed resistant strains are extremely good and the results obtained are highly promising. Physiological weak- ness in plants may often be translated in terms of disease suscept- ibility; this holds with emphasis in vegetables and grains. Apparent physiological vigor may arise from various causes, and when expressed in terms of more rapid growth or higher water content or succulence of the parts may be indeed a source of weakness in the midst of disease. Selections made for the purpose of securing resistance to disease are made under conditions of dzsease prevalence with highest promise. ‘This field of breeding for disease resistance is one of fruitful promise. Studies in this line have been made by the Horticultural Depart- ment of the Station in respect to resistance of potato plants to the early blight disease. By selection of hills that withstood early blight attack and planting tubers therefrom and subsequent repeti- tion of this work (See Bulletin 174) early blight resistant strains weresecured. The differences between these strains and non-se- lected tubers in 1908 during the marked prevalence of early blight was very striking and clearly showed thata tangible resistance capable of reproduction has been secured. Owing to the wide extent of this field with vegetables and grains, much may properly be expected from breeding for disease resistance in the future. Much progress has been made with cotton resistant to wilt and with musk melons resistant to leaf blight. For the present other remedial measures will also need to be pushed. CONCERNING PARASITIC FUNGI A fungus (plural, fungi) is a plant, a member of the class called fungi. ‘The fungi are low in the scale of plant life, being classed with the alge and other similar plant forms. They are lower still in the life scale than the mosses and liverworts; above the mosses come the fern-plants, and above these the seed plants, suchas grasses grains, clovers, trees, shrubs, herbs and the like, with which we come in contact every day. The fungi are distinguished from higher plants as wellas from their nearer relatives, the alge, by the absence: of green color, and for that reason, we may assume, by the lack of power to prepare their own food from the mineral substances dis- solved in water, and from the gases contained in the atmosphere. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 321 Herein they are marked off from most groups of plants: the fungi must live upon the substance of living or dead plants or animals. If they ever possessed the power of utilizing the same foods as most other plants, this ability has been lost. Parasitism is usually taken to indicate degeneracy in character. One way of regarding the fungi is as algz without chlorophyll, to which the latter owe their green color. As above stated, the fungi are, in the absence of chlorophyll, forced to live upon the dead remains of plants or animals, or to prey upon the living organisms. CLASSES OF FUNGI Such fungias subsist upon living plants or animals are called parasitic fungi. A parasite is one who eats at another’s table and the adjective ‘‘parasitic’” comes from this word, parasite. It is the parasitic fungi especially of which we must learn, since this class produce diseases when they attack other plants. The plant attacked is the “host” plant, however unwilling the entertainment of the sycophant. Most fungi are very minute in size and require the use of a microscope to study their parts; certain ones, however, such as the mold upon bread or other foods, may be seen very easily to consist of fine, thread- . a . Fig. 6. Mycelium of the common mold (Mxcor Mucedo). like g rowths interwov- From the spore lying near the middle of the figure, and strongly en toge ther, and __ swollen, one sees the thick threads of the mycelium arise; these A < inturn become richly branched. There are nodivisionsin the bearing certain round- mycelium. From the level of the mycelium arise three vertical ed parts upon erect fertile hypae, 2, 4, ¢, of which @ is still very young and that at 4 ° is already producing a sporangium containing manyspores. All branches. Some idea highly magnified. (After Zopf, from Reinke). of fungus-structure may be obtained by studying these common molds; that on a dis- carded melon rind will shows the parts above described, and by the use of a microscope we may learn that the rounded, ball-like enlarge- ments just mentioned consist chiefly of small bodies that are capable of growing into other fungus-threads. (Fig. 6). Such min- ute parts capable of germinating and again producing the fungus are called spores. Most sporesare very minute and are not heavier 322 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 than the other dust particles carried by the wind. The spores of fungi are the means by which these are most commonly reproduced: somewhat after the manner that the higher plants about / us are reproduced by their seeds. While we have cited the bread mold Pee as a good illustration reg to show the struc- “=a ~—-—i ture of a fungus, it 6 is not. a parasitic -/ fungus; a mold or 148 like growth which’ PUBR aT? Fig. 7. 72. A portion of leaf of pea showing breathing pores and parasitized by powdery mildew; the horizontal threads (steréle hyphae) and summer spore bearing parts of the mildew fungus (fertile hyphae) are distinctly shown. In these latter the septa are evident. 74. A spore sac (asczs) of the same fungus. 4, 5, 6, show the sucking organs (azszoria) of the sterile hypae of this fungus; these penetrate the epidermis of the leaf. 10 shows the spores of the rose mildew germinating. All highly magnified. (After Tulasne). + Note—The stomate in foreground is distorted. See Fig. 2. lives upon decaying material is called a sapro- phytic fungus. To this same belong the mush- rooms or toadstools that may be found in manure piles, in the woods and in orchards; the fact that we find them in such places shows that © there is decaying organic substance at ihat point, upon which these plants may subsist. A like condition is found in the shelf-fungi on old logs and stumps, onthe under surface of which we may write our names. Yet if we will usea hand lens we may often discover this under surface to be but a network filled with small openings or pores from which the spores of the fungus will in time escape. In like measure the spores of mushrooms are found in similar canals or upon the sides of the gills beneath the cap of this sort of fungus. The bacteria, or fission fungi, are one-celled plants multiplying by divi- Fig. 8. Fertile hyphae ‘conidiophores) of the downy mildew fungus on Cardamine, a mustard pro- truding from astomate; the one shown in full, bearing spores at the end of its branches. Highly magni- fied. Very similar to this are the downy mildews of rape, cucumber, lettuce and some others, (After Zopf). sion and by spore production; with bacteria evident mycelium is lacking and they are structurally lower in the scale of plant life than fungi provided witha mycelium. Bacteria are both parasitic and saprophytic. But to return to parasitic fungi: . DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 323 PARTICULAR FACTS ABOUT PARASITIC FUNGI Like the bread mold, or the other fungi just mentioned, parasitic fungi consist of a growth of threads or hyphae (singular, hypha) which-do the necessary work of getting food for the parasite; these also in due time give out certain branches destined to bear spores, somewhat after the manner that the pear tree has flower clusters, or the wheat plant forms its dense spike of bloom, both of which are especially designed to produce seeds from which wheat plant and pear tree may inturn be grown. The essential parts of a parasitic fungus are these threads, or hyphae, and the spores produced by them. ‘The hyphae of the fungus taken collectively are called the mycelium, which consists of threads that produce no spores (sterile hyphae) and of those destined for spore production (fertile hyphae. (Figure 7). Itis to the food getting qualities of the hyphae that the fungus owes its continual existence, and they in turn arise from a spore or directly by the growth of some fragment of fungus-thread, as the Carolina poplar may be grown fromacutting. Yet, while all parasitic fungi are made up of these few parts, the differences in form and apparent structure among the several groups are very marked; differences exist as to the thickness of the hyphae whether or not the threads are divided into separate cells by divisions like those at the joints of a bamboo rod, as well as in the manner of spore formation and in the size, color, form markings and structure of the spores themselves. It is almost hopeless to undertake to illustrate types of spore production and spore forms, since these are so varied and may differ so much at different stages of the development ofa single given species of fungus, yet we may cite a few examples: Fig.9. Showing the common rust of oats and rye. At Aasmall fragment of rye leaf with several orange-red, rust sori breaking through the epidermis; these are of the earlier summer spores (Uredo) or red rust of popular speech. At B asmall fragment of a rye leaf with several black, rust sori, elongated in form, breaking through the external covering; these are of the later summer or winter spores (Z¢lewtospores), AandCslightly magnified. At C section through thg uredosorus of 4; on the slender stalks (basidia) the rough one-celled uredo spores, and between them a young, two-celled teleutospore, which later alone form the sorus. ¢; ¢; epi- dermal cells; /, ?, cells of the leaf interior through which runs the mycelium of the fungus. At D a teleutospore from the black sorus of B; this is divided by a septum into two cells. Similar uredospores are found in most rusts; similar teleutospores occur in corn rust, wheat rust, etc., and in the spores of the cedar apple fungus. C and D considerably magnified. (After Zopf, 324 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Fungus spores may be produced as single spores or in naked clusters attached to certain branches. We find this sort in the downy mildew of the cucumber and its relatiye the peronospora of mustards (Fig. 8); in potato early blight; in fruit rot of plum, cherry, peach, etc., and later in the spores of apple scab. ‘They may also be found in dense clusters breaking through the skin of the plant like the many tubers of a potato breaking through the earth-crust; such without further conspicuous covering are found in the rust spots, in the anthracnoses and the like. (Figs. 3and 9). These dense clusters may arise beneath a special covering resembling nothing so much as the traditional beehive, but are usually ejected forcibly from a specially provided opening at the top of the cone or half-ball. (Fig. 10). A yet more interesting class is that in which the spores are packed so many to a sac (usually eight) and a large number of these crowded into a ball-like, hollow spore- case, such as we find in black-Ixnot, strawberry leaf- spot, the powdery mildews sat Aan cam Wreitin atetet al-pet and in some other instances. flexuous mass of spores, ejected from the pycnidium. 4, (Fig. 11). ‘There is yet an- section of a pycnidium, seated in the leaf tissues and filled other sort in which the with spores. ¢,agroupofthe spores. All highly mag- Mified. (After Allescher from Delacroix). spore sacs are abundant near the surface of the dis- eased part, as in leaf-curl of the peach, where the maturity of the fungus is shown by the change in color of the affected leaf surfaces. Other gradations will be found as one proceeds in this study. 9 008° THE SURVIVAL OF PARASITIC FUNGI Further, respecting parasitic fungi we must realize that they are all derived by specific processes of reproduction peculiar to the fungus in question; in other words spontaneous generation does not find support among the students of plant diseases. The presence of any given fungus leads us at once toinfer the previous existence, somewhere within reach, of a fungus of like species from which this one was derived by definite methods of reproduction. Likewise, the destructive prevalence of a parasitic fungus in any given time and at any given place, assures us of the necessary supply of spores to start the trouble again under favorable conditions. In fact, all our study leads us to look through mere phenomena, mere evidences of disease, to find the specific parasitic growth which causes them and the favoring conditions under which DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 325 these develop. The spores of fungi serve for them the same purpose as do the seeds in higher plants; by reason of the extreme smallness of the spores they are easily transported by the wind and become deposited like dust particles upon exposed surfaces. Certain resting spores survive on the fallen leaves or other parts and will be destroyed if these parts are burned. (See black-knot). The survival of organisms capable of infecting the new crop is certainly to be expected in plant diseases as in epidemic disorders among people. Some fungi which produce disease survive by their thread-like parts (mycedium) ina manner similar to the survival of Canada thistle quack-grass and the mints among troublesome weeds by their visible underground stems. A good illustration of this form of survival is found in the case of potato rosette; in this disease the masses of mycelium (sc/erotia) remain upon the surface of the potato tubers and unless destroyed by treatment of the seed will be ready for immediate attack upon the growing plants (sprouts), even before these have reached the outer air and taken on a green color. Similar survival may occur in cultivated soils, especially where the same or closely allied crops are grown in succession. ‘Thus the same fungus as that.of the potato disease first named, survives in greenhouse soils or in celery soils outdoors. RESTING FORMS AMONG FUNGI The active parasitic phases of fungi necessarily coincide with the activity of the host plants; it, therefore, follows in our temp- erate climates with alternating periods of activity and rest of growth and practical somnolence, that the parasites require to be mutually adapted to intermittent activity. Some spores will survive the brief rest period between harvest and seed time, as in a number of the various grain smuts and in grain anthracnoses. Here they are found simply adherent to the seed grain. Seed infesting parasites like the loose smut of wheat, the anthracnose of pea and bean, and a variety of other vigoraus species survive as resting mycelium, which remains virtually inactive so long as the parasitized seed is not exposed to conditions of moisture and temperature such as bring about germination. ’ ‘There are endless gradations between these instances of “rest- ing’? mycelium and the protected fruit cases of the higher type of fungi. Thus the perithecia or closed fruit bodies of the wheat scab fungus, develop shortly after harvest upon the infected glumes or culms of wheat, and may be observed by the unaided eye, as black bodies seated upon the pink mass of ene: summer form. ‘These fruit bodies in this case are the kind called ‘ ‘perithecia,’ which contain 326 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 within them spore-sacs of a nearly fixed number and each sac con- tains a fixed number of spores of definite form for each species. A great many fungi develop these ‘housed’? or protected forms during the dormant period, and indeed, spore development may proceed in the periods of lower temperature. With the perithecial or sporehouse form of wheat scab, (Gzbber- ella), the spore sacs are formed during the later summer, in our latitude, and these spore sacs disappear before midwinter. For each genus or species under study, peculiar time relations of development may be discovered. The perithecial or spore sac (acsigerous) form just described, or some comparable development of the spores under a definite cover-form, is viewed asa more or less ultimate stage in the development of the higher fungi— the summit in the cycle of their development. The rot of stone fruits, such as peach, plum, cherry and the like, is commonly known only in its conidial development Fig. 11. Section through a spore case (ferithecium), late winter stage of black-knot fungus, showing spore sacs (asc?) called Botrytis. Recent- within. Beside it, three asci containing winter spores or asco- : spores, eight in each sac, arranged in adefinite manner. Along ly Norton has discov- with these are thread-like hyphae known as paraphyses ered the Sclerotinia or ascigerous stage devel- oped from the mummy fruits in which the fungus lay dormant fora time awaiting spring or summer conditions. The bitter-rot of apple and its cycle of development not long since brought to light in Illinois, also shows the relation of the apple mummies, decayed by attacks of this anthracnose, to its survival. The fungus lives over in the old rotted fruits, acted upon by bitter- rot alone, which hang upon the trees. The fungus may also survive in branch cankers upon the tree adjacent to mummies of the bitter- rot. Inthese branch cankers the spore sac or perithecial stage of the fungus is developed. Upon the coming of warm showery weather about early June, new spores are produced from either mummies or cankers and new infection may occur upon the new fruits. The problem of the control of this disease, therefore involves a knowiedge of its manner of survival. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 327 ALTERNATION OF HOSTS IN FUNGUS SURVIVAL This relation of alternating forms in the life cycle of a given parasitic species, to its survival, has been mentioned in wheat scab wherein we have the Fusarzum or pink mold and the Gibberella forms; in rot of stone fruit where we find Bo@rytis and Sclerotinia forms, and inapple anthracnose or bitter-rot where we discover the Gloeosporium followed by the Glomorella ascospores. In these instances there seems no real need for the advent of another host plant. In other groups of fungi, notably among the Uvredinee or rusts, we discover in certain species, that survival is accompanied by a necessary change of host plant. The apple rust is known in summer to attack the leaves and fruit of apple, thorn apple (Crataegus), june-berry and mountain ash. This is the aecidial or cluster-cup stage of the apple rust and has its counterpart in the aecidiospores or cluster-cups of the wheat rust upon barberry as well. With apple rust we climb far on the plant ladder and find the teleutospores of rust survive upon the cedar treesas branch enlarge- ments called cedar apples (Gymnosporangium). 'The dry looking apples upon the cedar trees take onanew form during spring showers when they become great, jelly-like masses which emit the teleutospores of the rust, to be carried to apple, juneberry and crataegus leaves by whatever agency is available. The relation of cedar trees to the prevalence of apple rust isa practical matter for each orchardist. It may be better to make firewood of the cedar trees than to combat the apple rust in his orchards. A similar problem as between the barberry hedges which adorn rural England, and the virulence of wheat rust in their grain fields, may also be raised. With us we have plenty of grain rust in the absence of barberry hedges. An adaptive form of survival apparently takes the place of the alternating hosts, and we still have the wheat rust. The instances given are simply illustrative and the student of plant pathology will discover many more in the course of his study. Likewise a careful perusal of the special part of this bulletin will show other instances of survival under many various and instructive conditions. HOW THESE PARASITES ROB THE HOSTS There is an old saying about the stable door and the stolen horse; similar application may be made for plants-and parasitic fungi in a manner which we shall presently perceive. To obtain food we must reach the source of supply; the manner of reaching it is less important than the result. Now it occurs that cultivated and wild 328 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 plants of the higher classes are wrapped about by a covering of skin or bark, and the food-filled juices are within; to feed upon any living host the parasite must gain access to the internal tissues of that host. Itso happens that there are minute openings or stomates (breathing pores) through the skin of leaves and of young green stems; these openings are as necessary as the stable door, and through them the thief may enter. (See Fig 4). Were these open- ings to become entirely closed the plant would languish, and remain- ing open, they constantly offer a way for the tender tip of the growing germ thread of a fungus to pushits way through the plant covering and to luxuriate within the host upon the substance of the plant. Once within, the fungus thrives, rapidly multiplies its branches, and if in summer, commonly thrusts its fertile threads through some of these breathing pores to bear its spores outside where they may become more widely distributed than if remaining within the tissues of the host plant. Should, however, the Fig. 12. Haustoria of the fungus of the grape downy mildew penetrating cells of grape stem. The shaded portion shows the mycelium of the fungus growing be- tween the cells, sending haustoria, ¢ a, into the interior ofthe cells. (After Scrib- ner from Farlow). Note: In this figure the lower row of cells have the form of empty epidermal cells in which the fungus. would find little winter season be near, ‘resting spores may be formed, or their formation be provided for within the leaves, or dis- eased parts, as in grape downy mil- dew, elm-leaf disease and in black-knot of plumandcherry. ‘Thus the cycle. of development continues indefinitely to subsist upon. Farlow’s original figure does not give these cells such form. unless some agency intervene to destroy the spores, to prevent their germination, or the parasite itself so exhaust the host plantas to destroy it entirely and the fungus perish for lack of suitable nidus. However, this rarely occurs, not perhaps, so often as men are guilty of killing the goose which lays the golden egg. Herein, we meet another fact, namely, that parasitic fungi of a given kind are limited toa particular host plant of a certain species, or toa small number of related plants, so that if a congenial host is lacking the fungus will not thrive. The fungus threads growing within any plant will not flourish if simply passing between the cells of the host; penetrating organs pierce the cell-walls and are able to absorb nutriment from the cell interior. (Fig. 12). The diverse forms of sucking organs, and the peculiar structures of fungus threads in these situations would in themselves require much study and investigation to present them properly. We must further conceive that a fungus may often DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 329 penetrate the bark of a tree for example, if aided by rifts caused by freezing or similar disturbances, to say nothing of the openings offered by wounds, the breaking of branches, etc. A recent illustra- tion of the danger of rifts in the bark of trees is offered by the chestnut disease which is proving so destructive near New York City. Few parasitic fungi have that penetrating power of thrusting the haustoria through the plant covering such as we find in the case of the dodder that twines about and robs the wild herbs and shrubs of the woods and fields as well as the cultivated flax and clovers. HOW PARASITIC FUNGI AFFECT THE HOST We know the cumulative effects of insufficient food supply; these effects must hold for plants attacked by parasitic fungi. Aside from the nutriment diverted to the parasite, there is reduced functional vigor of leaf, stem or root, and the loss becomes increased in this way. Letallthe leaves be parasitized, or let even three-fourths of them be entirely soattacked, and we may look for great loss of foliage, possibly entire loss of fruit and the detailed effects of diminished vigor, unripened wood, or by repetition, entire destruction of the host. Usually the effects are of many gradations, but in all cases of leaf-parasites the entire plant must suffer. We have learned that bacteria may, in a suitable medium, destroy themselves by the formation or emission of poisonous products. which are fatal alike to the bacteria and to animals, or even man; that such takes place within plants parasitized by fungi remains in doubt, and may be disre- garded for the present. The results of impaired function in the parts are serious enough to demand our attention. It is altogether ‘probable that future investigations will modify our views upon some points. There are many curious transformations and malformations resulting from the attacks of parasitic fungi, simply by the multi- plication of cells of wound cork or other tissues in the effort of the host to shut off the fungus, not because the fungus consists of such amass of tissues. (See leaf-curl of peach). While exceedingly interesting to trace the effects of the white mold on shepherd’s purse and on the garden purslane, as well as the effects of bramble rust, cabbage club-root and a number of others, the principle above pointed out will be found generally applicable, and it is to the reactions of the host plant that the excrescences or malformations are chiefly attributable. It may further be stated that artificial cultures of parasitic fungi, either upon culture media or living plants are constantly adding to our knowledge in these lines. BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS: ROOT NODULES, ETC. While realizing the losses caused by parasitic fungi and bacteria we may not hastily condemn all fungi and bacteria. One of the most profound influences of aging culture of the soil is the beneficial 330 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 effects in nitrogen fixing, exerted by the root nodule bacteria of leguminous plants. The well known beneficial effects of the root nodule bacterium upon clover has made rotation in clover an agricul- tural necessity. The species or forms of root nodule bacteria required on alfalfa, cowpeas, vetches, etc., have become recognized as factors of consequence in our efforts at seeding and new species of legumes on the farm. A less understood relation between certain fungi which develop as mycorrhiza upon the roots of some deciduous trees and notably on conifers may not be passed. Herein we may find an explanation of rotation in forest species when reforestation crops are to be grown. THE PROOF OF PARASITIC CAUSE IN PLANT DISEASE The mere presence of a fungus, determined by the microscope in diseased tissues of the plant, does not prove the case against the organism found. Itis not easy at all times to be certain whether discovered spores belong to this or that organism, or group of organ- isms, although with certain groups as the anthracnoses, species of Fusarium, etc, the spore forms give somewhat clear evidence. The differences between parasitic and saprophytic fungi are not always simple matters admitting of ready determination; further, we must bear in mind that after a parasite has caused death or even minor lesions in a plant, the organisms of decay may be expected to appear to do their great work as the scavengers of the world. The fungi or bacteria found in a dying plant may be both saprophytic and para- sitic, or these may be only saprophytic. The methods of proof of parasitic cause in the bacterial diseases of animals including man have been extended to the study of bacterial diseases of plants and finally to the diseases caused by parasitic fungi. These methods consist of a group of rigorous exact rules which are stated by Dr. E. F. Smith in the following terms: (a) Constant association of the organism with the disease. (b) Isolation of the organism from the diseased tissues and careful study of the same in pure cultures on various media. (c) Production of the characteristic signs and lesions of the disease by inoc- ulations from pure cultures into healthy plants. (d) Discovery of the organism in the inoculated, diseased plants, re-isola- tion of the same, and growth on various media until it is determined beyond doubt that the bacteria in question are identical with the organism which was inoculated. Smith—Bacteria in Relation to Plant Diseases. Vol. 1, p. 9. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 331 While these methods and rules are stated with special reference to bacteria as the cause of disease, they apply with equal force to the proof of cause in the case of any given parasitic fungus. These methods require rigorous and exact work in the isolation and subse- quent culture of the parasite upon sterile media, followed by equally careful inoculation work using these pure cultures as a source of the organism. METHOD OF INOCULATION FROM CULTURES The methods of inoculation tried by the investigator are of great importance. ‘These determine, in fact, the success or non-success of his efforts. There must be adaptation of the method to the life history of the parasite and the developmental stages of the host plant, including the appearance of the parts more commonly attacked by it. Fig. 13. This shows method of infecting field plots by means of the hand spray pump, using the washings of samples of wheat and other grains. The washing of grain containing spores of disease such as anthracnose or scab may be used, Cultures may also be sprayed upon plants in this way or by means of blow-bottle in smallertests. (From Bul. 203, Ohio Experiment Station). Following the methods of earlier bacteriologists, needle pricks are often employed both in the inoculation of fungiand bacteria into plants. One seeking to pursue a special line of inoculations will need in all cases to study his conditions as wellas the methods of other investigators. ‘Thus, doubtless, inoculations like those of Phytoph- thora and Plasmopara may be best attained by using drops of sterile water to carry the spores. The same principle applies in field 332 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 methods upon many crops. In the case of grain diseases, notably anthracnose and scab upon wheat, rye, oats and grasses, inocula- tions may be made by spraying the cultures upon the grain ata proper stage of its development. While some groups of fungi do not lend themselves readily to culture upon the usual media, it is the aim of plant pathology to make this possible witha constantly increasing number of these parasites. CULTURE PROOF NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE While in all cases of bacterial diseases where the body of the organism is so little different from that ofthe bacteria of decay, fermentation, etc., these rigorous proofs are required before the disease is listed as of proven bacterial origin, we do not find it nec- essary in practice to reprove again the case as against frequently occurring species of fungi associated with particular plant diseases. This does not make it less necessary to prove all cases as to para- sitic cause, although the practicability in any single laboratory of pathology is admittedly one of narrow limits. ENZYMATIC DISEASES OF PLANTS: CHLOROSIS OR PANACHURE To this form of physiological breakdown, induced however, by specific causes recently determined, we attribute some very wide- spread and injurious diseases which belong under the head of chlorosis. Peach yellows, possibly peach rosette, frenching or mosaic disease in tobacco, and in general variegated or special yellow foliage types of plants as in Arundo, Acer and other genera of plants belong here. The yellows in peach has long been studied, as also the tobacco mosaic disease. In yellows the contagious character of the disease and its transmission in pruning by contact of parts of the harness of team and by or through the atmosphere has been recorded. A few years ago it was determined by Beierjink and by Hunger that this infection exists as a chemical compound or compounds of complex nature belonging to the oxidizing ferments ofa group called the oxidases. Oxidase, peroxidase and others of these ferments are known. They act by breaking down or oxidizing the plant leaf tissues and especially the chlorophyll or leaf-green of foliage and young tissues, converting it into xanthophyll. The tests for these © ferments are of some importance. Woods and others have shown their action with peroxid of hydrogen. From a practical point of view the transmission of the ferments, | and, therefore, of the disease, by touching first diseased and then healthy foliage is: rather surprising. The work of Hunger in Java | DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 333 upon the transmission of the tobacco mosaic disease. makes the risk of transmission from diseased to healthy plants by such handling, stand out clearly. ‘This line of transmission was verified on tobacco by the writer’s assistant in 1903 (See Bulletin 156, of this Station). While the same class of proof for peach yellows is very difficult, owing to the latent nature of the disease for some months after first infection, the actual results of infection from nearby diseased trees make clear the danger of such exposure and the necessity for the destruction of diseased trees. Chemical examination of variegated or chlorose tissues shows the same compounds, the oxidases, etc., to be present and to account for the transformation of the leaf-green or chlorophyll, into xanthophyll, or leaf yellow. ‘Thus by degrees apparent plant disease mysteries are solved. ‘The weakness of variegated plants and their ready susceptibiity to attacks of para- sitic fungi are now explained by thisimpaired condition of the leaf parts. PLANT DISEASES TRANSMITTED IN THE SEED The public in general little realizes how many diseases of plants are transmitted in the seed, although as the years pass the general dissemination of knowledge concerning infection by spores and by germs has partly prepared the way. The public mind does not longer expect something to grow from nothing. The treatment of seed grain, as wheat, oats, barley, etc., todestroy adhering spores of the smut fungi, and thus prevent these smuts in the crop, has been known for many years. In the early days of the Agricultural Experiment Stations, these doctrines and practices in this regard were widely disseminated, new impetus being given by the success- ful use of hot water following’ the methods of Jensen in Denmark; but despite the conquest of the practical control over the order Ustiligineae, the smuts, we have only really begun to study the matter of seed infecting diseases produced by seed infesting fungi. These seed infesting fungi are of two types, viz, first, those whose spores adhere to the seed grain as in the case of the smuts of grains generally, and second, and more exactly, those fungi which develop upon or within the seed largely by their threads or mycel- ium, and may, or may not, prevent the germination of the infested seed grain. Our knowledge of these strictly seed infesting fungi is quite recent; we may point to the work of Prof. Bolley and his assistants at the North Dakota Experiment Station, especially upon the matter of flax diseases; to the work of Dr. Halsted in New Jersey and to Bulletin 173 of this Station by Van Hook. With the tendency to continuous growing of flax, in the west there was developed m 334 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 that new area specific seed and soil troubles which have been proved to be perpetuated in the infected seed. An anthracnose of flax and a Fusarium attacking flax seed are examples. No less conspicuous is the case of the blight fungus of peas, Ascochyti pist, which is also an anthracnose, and the allied anthrac- nose of beans, Colletotrichum lagenarium. Investigations made at this Station by Van Hook show the source of the trouble with peas to be the infected seed employed and show also that seed treatment will not destroy these internal fungi without destroying the vitality of the seed. It was further shown that the source of relief zs in growing healthy seed through the use of fungicides upon thé pea vines from which seed is gathered; likewise that infection way remain in the soil, (See Bulletin 173). Fig. 14. Showing physician’s centrifuge and other apparatus used in making examinations of grain washings for smut spores and spores of other diseases adher- ing to the exterior of seed. The flasks at the right show samples of washed grain. Those at the left show amounts of grain and water used. The glass tubes in con- tainer are used in the metal holders of the centrifuge. The precipitates in bottoms of tubes were obtained from washing of oats and wheat samples in flasks. (From Bul. 203), More recent work at this Station has shown the presence of seed infesting and seed infecting diseases in wheat. (See Bulletin 203). The illustration, Fig. 15, exhibits the germinating seeds of wheat with the outgrowth of the parasitic ‘fungus (Fusarium) which we find associated with wheat scab. Thisis upon seed grains (kernels) that are not destroyed by the fungus; many of the kernels of scabby. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 335 heads will not germinate. It was also found in continuous wheat land as much as 6 percent of the young wheat plants were destroyed in the fall by this same parasite which appears to survive in the soil under continuous ‘wheat growing as well as to be propagated in the seed grain. Fig. 15. This shows results from germinating ten wheat kernels in Petri dish containing agar. Both the agar and the kernels were sterilized. After five days it was found that five kernels had produced healthy plantlets, and four kernels had germinated but were attacked by the scab fungus, Fusarium, and two by anotherfungus. One kernel in the center did not grow and gave only growth of the scab fungus, Pusarzum, (From Bul. 203). HOW TO EXAMINE SEEDS FOR INFECTION Recently good success has been obtained in the laboratory of this Department in determining the presence of certain seed infesting fungi in seed wheat, oats, rye, etc. In regard tothe matter of adhering spores this is accomplished by making washings of the seed in distilled water and separating the spores from the washings by means ofa physician’s centrifuge. (Fig. 14). The spores and similar particles washed from the seeds are thus collected in the bottom of the tubes of the centrifuge and may be identified by microscopic examination. (Fig. 16). 336 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Examples may be multiplied to illustrate the range of seed infection both by adhering spores and by internal development of the mycelium of the invading fungus. Many of these are treated under the particular diseases of the crops. ‘The bean, pea, barley, broom- corn, flax, millet, potato, sorghum, rye, sweet-po- tato, and wheat will all furnish examples. Not only have we to test the actual survivalof the par- asites thus found but we must discover the behav-_ ior of the disease with respect to the germina- tion and seedling plants which grow from such infected seeds or tubers. Examination for infection of seed bulbs and tubers may be made either with or without the growth of Fig. 16. Microscopic photographs from centrifuge precipitates of wheat washings. 2, from wheat washings, narrow, slightly curved anthracnose spores, small spherical, loose smut spores, large spore of stinking smut and portions of the setae of anthrac- nose. 4, from wheat washings, small, loose smut spores, large stinking smut spores and curved scab spores, All magnified about 180 times. plants from them. With potato scab and rosette, the external scab effects or the sclerotia of Ahz- zoctonia are not difficult tosee. With the latter the moistened tubers show _ > marked color contrasts and make the work easier. These diseases are reached by seed treatment. Where the infection is internal by the threads or mycelium of the fungus, the seeds may be germinated in Petri dishes where the kernels are surrounded bya moisture retaining, sterile medium DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 337 such as agar or gelatin. This method has been worked out in Bulletin 203 and may often be applicable. The illustrations above will show the results in these cases as before referred to. With internal tuber infesting diseases as in the bacterial wilt disease of the potato, the Fusarium wilt or dry- rot fungus of the potato and the soil-rot of the sweet potato, we must go further than mere external examination. For the two named wilt diseases of potato, infection usually shows earliest at the stem end. Thin slices across this stem end of the tubers will show wheth- er or not there is discoloration in the vessels. In the absence of infec- tion there will be no discoloration with bacterial infection by Bacillus solanacearum, black areas or rings will be seen in these tissues while tubers infected with /usarium oxysporum will show local areas of browned or blackened tissues. This infection applies usually to “harvest time. As the infect.on advances, one-half the length of the tuber or even more may become infected. In all cases sections from sterilized tubers may be used asa source of cultures in Petri dishes. The same applies to soil rot of sweet potato. These diseases are not reached by seed treatment. THE LIMITS IN SEED TREATMENT —- Fig. 17. Pea stem showing lesion from It will be apparent that serious _ blight fungus, Ascochyta pisi, near surface ate oe iN of ground. Thisfungus came from the seed limits hold in regard to seed treat- pea. (Natural size). From Bul. 173. ments. Where the spores are external and simply adhering to the seed grain, treatment will destroy these spores if rightly adapted to the seed in question and the germination need not be much, ifany impaired. On the other hand where the seed infection is internal rather than external, grave doubts arise as to the possibility of successful seed treatment. 338 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 It has not been found possible in thé cases of seed peas when infected with the blight fungus, or of seed wheat, rye, etc.,infected with the scab and other fungi to apply any seed treatment which would destroy the infecting fungus without destroying the vitality of the seed grain. In general we may say that where the seed infection or fungus spores, etc., are external to the visible or germinable grain, seed disinfection through treatment is possible, but for the internal fungiitis rarely possible. The loose smut of wheat may be amen- able to special seed treatment with only partial loss of vitality in the seed wheat. Fig. 18. Potato tubers attacked by Dry Rot Fusarium, showing sections near the stem-end of infected potatotubers. This infection may be easily discovered by cross sections made with a sharp knife, and sections from sterilized tubers gives culturesin Petri disnes. At times the discolorations extend to the middle of the tuber. (From a photograph by T. F, Manns). . METHODS OF SEED TREATMENT The methods of seed treatment heretofore employed are set forth in the spray calendar and consist in an immersion of the seed in hot water of definite temperatures or in solutions of formaldehyde of different strengths. The formaldehyde solutions may also be employed to sprinkle piles of seed grain and in this manner less handling of the grain is required. More recently it has been pro- posed to disinfect seed potatoes, onions, forage, etc., through fumi- gation with formaldehyde gas liberated by boiling the solution, or better by mixing formaldehyde or formalin solutions with pulver-' ized potassium permanganate by which the gas is liberated. With seeds, tubers, roots, bulbs, etc., the limitations of the treatment are not so narrow and these may be immersed for longer or shorter periods in solutions of corrosive sublimate, formalde- hyde, etc., or they may be exposed to fumigation with gaseous formaldehyde as has just been stated. (See Seed and Soil Treat- ment, pages 344 and 345 following. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 339 SOIL INFESTING PARASITES IN FIELD AND FORCING HOUSE The cultivated soil is a medium in which many species of bacteria and fungi survive from year to year. The public is famil- iar with the doctrine of bacterial infection or inoculation of the soil in its relation tothe nodules or tubercles of clover, alfalfa, soy beans, cowpeas and other cultivated plants of the Family of Leguminosae. One form of bacterium is not sufficient for both clover and alfalfa. This flora of the soil both in relation to bacteria and fungi of consid- erable range of species, is enriched by the applications of manure and by the practices of culture; by this is meant that the growing ofa given crop a second time ora third time consecutively in the soil increases the probability that the plant roots remaining in the soil are carried over from one crop to the next together with root parasites which cause dis- ease in the plants of this crop. Manifestly, like- wise, ifin preparation for a given crop to be grown for the first time upon the land, rather liberal appli- cations are made of fresh stable manure containing spores or mycelium, more especially the resting forms of mycelium called sclerotia, the soil will be- come infected by this manurial application. While this source of. in- fection is rather rare in field culture we bave spe- tific examples as in the ; isease of potatoe Fig. 19. Bases of potato stems (Carman No. 38) collected scab dise s is om oes June 7, 1902, Cheshire Ohio, showing injuries by Rhizoctonia, transmitted in this Way; The shaded areas are darker lesions occupied by an abund- ugar beets ence of Rhizoctonia hyphae; the tops showed conspicuous the scab of es & > ns Rosette effects. Reduced from Bulletin No, 139. may be carried in like manner. Butin forcinghouse culture where heavy applications of manure are made, the chances are greatly increased that soil infec- ion will be produced from the manure. It is of value to remember that seed infesting or seed infecting organisms are also very largely capable of survival in the soil nidus of cultivated soils, thus our troubles multiply adequately if our care be inadequate to avoid them. 340 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Fig. 20. This shows root portions of seedling lettuce plants with dark spots, lesions caused by attacks of the rosette fungus, /th/zoctonia, With the younger plants these attacks cause large mortality and in very small seedlings the stem of plantlet may early collapse after the manner shown in rotting specimens, (From Circular No. 57). THE AVOIDANCE AND PREVENTION OF SOIL INFESTING DISEASES We, perhaps, may assert that the law of nature is that of a diver- sified plant covering; at any rate the law of successful culture will permit of statement in termsofcrop rotation. And it is true that as culture ages the number and seriousness of plant diseases increase almost in geometric ratio. Itis further conspicuously true with respect to those areas devoted largely to continuous culture ina single crop or ina group of closely related crops such as the growing of wheat in Western United States and Canada, also in the growing of flax and other crops. Potato growing in San Joaquin county, California, illustrates this danger. Muck lands devoted to vegetable culture, tempt the grower to continue his crops of celery, onions, etc. Here we haveasatrue result the accumulation of diseases which attack these plants; thus for field culture we are seep caae DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 341 a serious decrease in the return from the crop on the special type of soil. While for general field culture avoidance of conditions may be successful, this is by no meansa simple matter. Rotation is often absolutely necessary, but this same rotation will not rid the soil of the onion smut fungus, nor of some other parasites such as in the case of the club-root fungus of cabbage and related plants. In these cases some soil treatment must be applied to field areas. In the case of the onion smut it is sufficient to apply a formalin. drip which will fall with the seed and disinfect the soil layer in proximity to the seed. This is effective because the smut fungus can penetrate the germ- inating onion plant only in the earlier stages of growth. On the other hand with cabbage club-root, where plants are transplanted from the beds in which they are grown, some general method of soil treatment which involves the soil mass is more effective. In this case it is the application of stone lime or caustic lime in liberal quant- ities. These examples are only illustrative of general conditions to be met with. In the case of potato scab, itis found necessary both to disinfect the seed where scab is present, even toa limited extent, and to plant upon new soil not infested with the scab organism. Potato rosette is certainly an acid loving parasite. Ne tts Fig. 21. Lower portion of two celery plants Showing effects of root rot, RAzzoctonia, It will be observed that nearly all the roots of the plants have rotted off in consequence of the attack. (From Cir- cular No. 72). 342 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Under the diseases described for each plant, methods of avoid- ance and treatment are indicated and the diligent student will find other instances of similar character mentioned therein. SOIL TREATMENT IN THE FORCING HOUSE About our great centers of population have grown up conspicu- ous developments of the forcing house industry; large areas are covered with glass and these hothouses are maintained at the necessary temperatures for the production of the special green crops found profitable, At the same time the soil of the hothouse beds is very liberally manured and enriched further by applications of commercial fertilizers. Not only do these applications of manure tend to enrich the flora of the soil and to introduce particular root parasites, but the decay of the organic matter of the manure also tends to produce humus acids in considerable quantities. Along with these are brought parasitic eelworms which are peculiarly fatal to curcurbitaceous plants, to violets and to some other hothouse crops. _ Next to the eelworms the most conspicuous organism in our area is the sterile fungus Rhizoctonia, whose resting formsor sclerotia may be readily introduced in manure. To meet this indoor soil infection, special methods of soil sterilization had to be developed, since soil rotation is practically impossible in the forcing house. These methods of treatment are in brief, steaming oi the soil to render it practically sterile, so far as these parasites are concerned, and a method of formalin drenching. This method of steaming is ideal, or almost so, in its results upon sandy or loamy soils, but often entails unfavorable changes in heavy silty or clay soils. Essentially, it consists in burying a series of perforated pipes in the soil at inter- vals, covering the surface of the beds and passing live steam in suffic- ient volume into the pipes. These pipes are prepared insets with cross heads and boiler connections and are perforated at desired distances. The surface of the bed is covered with canvas and the steam passed into the system for such period as is required to heat the soil toa temperature from 180° to 212° Fahz., to be maintained for one hour or more. ‘This applies to high pressure boilers; for low pressure or hot water heating systems where the steam is applied in subdrains, four to five hours steaming will be required with a pressure of six to seven pounds. ‘This treatment is effective for destruction of the eelworms or nematodes of cucumbers, violets and - -lettuce, the rot or drop fungus of lettuce, the rosette fungus, and in general of all soil infesting parasites. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 343 Another method, the formaldehyde or formalin drench, has proved successful for the control of AAzzoctonza in greenhouse soils. This consists in a solution of 40 percent formaldehyde in water, say at the rate of two to four pounds in 50gallons of water. ‘This is applied at the rate of one gallon per square foot of area and will involve a very severe wetting down of the bed and prevent immediate resetting of the soil owing to the persistence of the formaldehyde. One secondary effect of formaldehyde drench and lime in sandy soils in the forcing house was an increased yield of lettuce amounting from 60 to 90 percent over the ordinary crop. This was explained on the assumption that the parasitic fungus was destroyed and certain other inhibiting organisms at the same time. THE BEST FORCING HOUSE PRACTICE The best forcing house practice will contemplate a recurrent disinfection or sterilization of the soil during the idle period; it should be preceded by whatever applications of limestone and manure that are to be made to the soil, then after thorough working and appli- cation of water to correct unevenness of moisture the soil may be sterilized by steam, or the formaldehyde drench be applied with assurance of results: obviously also this treatment must extend most vigorously to the plant beds and bring healthy seedlings to soil in which the soil parasites have been destroyed. ‘The following tables of seed and soil treatments taken from the spray calendar will be of more use than extended description or discussion: OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 3444 “(TET WIeTING 30g) “T10s 07UT ITs pu ‘puL] pamord ATYSeIJ UO Butpsas 0} snorAdid qsnf e1oe Jed sjeysnq eay-4jUeM, pUe peIpUNy uO 03 aAY-AjUaAIS JO 9} eI OY} Je OUTITYIIND punois Ss{dde iQ “pass 34} YUM Sulyes UorpNjos ay} ‘yUeWYIEI}e dip pur [TIP YIM Mos 19}}aq Jo ‘anU0 38 12409 PUL [LOS [JIM 308 JUD UI! pass UO papYUlIds JozeA Jo “s[eS YE OF “QI [ UOIFN[OS epAYapyeussoy as—) *sdoi9 10730 YUM SUOIUO 932701 $}NUIS UOTUO Joy Se aPAYOP]VUIIO; YIIM Peas MOG, ‘AIP Way} ‘BUIIIS YIM Sinoy FZ JO} py[Ns unissejod uorynyos yueo1ed yf Ul psas YLOS *£1p 0} au0 ye pealds ‘-1yey saoldap Z-F] 72 SONUIUT BAY 10j 10 * IWR Se01Bap Oey 32 SazyNULUL UWaAas JO] **IYe gq SeeiZap ¢-ZEy 72 19}e4 JOY Ul SazNUIW Ud} JO} JesseA Usdo UI Peule}UOD poses BSISUIW] | : *£1p 0} pesids ‘apid aq} Ul 4qSIa 19A0 IO SINOY INO} 10 3a14} Joye ‘ssulpHAUlIds Ino} 10 va1q} 3¥ ‘Jaysnq 0} VOTES Guo ‘UOljN[OS apAYSpyTeUrJoy YPM 9} eINZeS 0} BUTTEAOYS YIIM pags jo aId & gyUlids Ajqeisjolg ‘power [eizJed & ATO SISIT.T, *szur]d Zurz3es a1ojeq asdvya YSNUI SHAM OM, “dOdRJINS JO “jy “bs YIva 0} UOLNIOS “[BF T ‘187! JO “s[eI QE 0} “SQT FO} ¢ ASN SIaquININ YPM SMOTIOJ B[QNOI} aTayM “Sq] ZO} %] epAYSpleuto) YIM YueIp 10 aaoge se WILAIS *do1d 990342] Furpadeid 192M Jo SUOTTLS YG 0} “SQ] F 0} E PPATSp[eUrio} YALA [LOS YIUI| *sinoy G0} p SUIZIPQNs Ul ainsseld MO] JO ‘sInoY Z 0} [ ‘ainsseid Ys ‘sadid pa}esojiad Aq uleays YF [IOS 8ZI[119}G *yxaU 22g oe fe *yaom Jad s0u0 JsNpP 099eq0} YIM ATIaIJ SHTEIS punore j1os 49A0D ‘[1OS YUM SaoY []Y puke Uogsed Jo pyINsiq Jo [nsuCodsee} & yNoge UI Inod ‘001 IvoU [10S UT B[oY PALA * S100} BTQE}MS YIM [10S 94} OFUI HIOM pus aioe ad sjeysng og jo o}ed 4e ‘BuUTUL]A aJojaq ‘aUNI] puNno1Z A]qQVI9jo1d (@UNITYOIND) aut] euoys Addy *siaquinond Japun paqliosep sv Uee}s ILM Buje 4q pasn aq 0} [10s JOaJUISIG *JaqUIVYD 10 [asseA }YAI}-I1e Ul SINOY INoj-4}UIM}y Joy SaUINy 0} PUIGns| *$}U9U} eaT} 19} EM JOY J9q3O 10j ULT} JOMO] S301Zap 3014} 10 “qe gq SeerZep gy Je J9}eM JOY Ul seynurUT say dip pue a10Ur SinoyY INoj 39M PULZS Jo] *107BM POO UL S1NOY INO) SHOES Ul pasojoUe pads YLOS *[NJSSAOoNS S! S}¥O 10j SE OPAYSP[VUIIOJ JeBuU0IZs YUM SuljyUlIdg “SSUITpses poewuridsuevl} 10 Sjas as ‘doid Joqj}0 JULI -aWM1yyOInb punois 10 apAyepleulioy as sores {nus UOIUO 10} Se apAYep]eUltoy os) (7eayM 22g) ++-pyyns ‘sejod ul pass BOG 19] BM JOY UL paes PSIOUIW 10 epAYep]eul -10} YM pees aHULIds terest sees gpAqapTeULog panies Ijos ureayg * epAyapleur -10y YM YoueIp 10 [| uree}s 431M [los azi[1183S Wis waves en 6 QAoqe S¥ oz{[l1e3s 10 epAyep -TeUIIOF YA [IOS yous) Ures}S YUL [Ios ezTTLIEIS UIE3}S FILM ]IOS aZITLIAIS ++++ 4snp o99e8qQ0} lo uoqivd jo pyinsig vereess-T1os WO SUTITYOING, “T8935 FIM JOS 9ZI]LI81S ceteess* ogres JO pOINs!g (4epueles Avids 30g) sreseeess JO7BM JOY pay -ipour 10 epAyepleuri0E,y ynus sasipiteen stare cess OSpNnUS UIe13 Pe10}S ULS}eSU] + eeeees qnuls as007] seseveeees ggomBIy]Uy tate reeeee rene renee Joy se eeeees® 4oI-q00x asnoyj0y Ul sepozyeuleNy asnoyqj0Y Wl sapoyemaN waeeiewiats sereee+ aq3as0q| - rte eeees- Qonqyey tress Jaquinong RoR ER sJamopyneg pue aseqqey eluosag seeretteccees ABE INAANLVIUL 10 dOHLAN INFWLVaAL daLvaul LVHM Yost INVYId YO Gags SLNANLVaAYL TIOS GNV Gaus 345 DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS ‘uoryd19sep Aue jo 21g 1v9u asn jou Op pu sZuIpINq 20 STIG 3431} UW! es_ “Ofl] JasUy [Te BUNT ‘Sseur oy} YAnomy} prods [TIM YOrYM sourny ay} Ploy oF JOMULTA YIM BvpINs I9AOD *SUIG UI UleIZ Jo Spunod 9gQ‘Z Yo¥e Joy UOGIed Jo PYTNSIq Jo punod auo aeTg]---- +--+ uoqies jo pyinsig “(16 UHETING 2eg) *S}]eO Joy se OpAYOPTeUrio; 10 oy} ¥I[Ns Jaddoo UU Soid ul peyutids aq AeUE UleIs) *19}8M Jo SUOT]eS U9} 0} JOLIZLA aNIq Jo Spunod om} as O ‘sur eaoys Aq aul] payxe[s-1le YIM AIp (97 eJ[NS Jaddoo) Jor1}1A oNTq Jo MoryN]os Ul seyNUTUL UEz OSIOUIWT JO soB}INS Pagulsip Uo AIP pue “IYey Seolsep EET Fe J0yeM JOY Ul So}NUIUL Ud} JO; pass pauIUNIyS dig ‘rauueU sures ul A1p pue Jaysnq tad ssaj 10 "es [ “jNUIS }¥O IO} Se apAgepleulioy YA soyid url ules oyULIds]------ ‘az eJ[Ns Jaddoo 1b 10} oy ‘apAyspleui0g ‘AIP pue “IgE, seolsap gey ye JozeM UL SaznUJW GAY SSIOUIU, ‘SYS JOM UW! IOUT SIMOY Ino} puLys 39] “19}eM POO UL SINOY Ino} paas HeOG} ----- 19}@M JOY peygtpoyy ‘Apaulel jetzed aaoid Aeurl yNws SulyUNs 10} se Bulpyurids| tresses sess QpAYOP[BULIO “2A0ge SIaquININd 10y se puLYyasojag Wau} EAI} [Ios Aq SI UOI}WAeIA IO} 9WII} aqL] - *sdo19 asaq} JO UOISsad0NS PfOAY ‘JaMOpIINVS pur a3eqqed Jo} sy S00} 2U10} W9013 Jo }O1-JUIOd jo JuUaudoTaAap 0} BPQRIOAR] SuIaes ATddns 10}eM yUSIOgNsuUl uy “aa0qe S1equUINOND pue-sasol 10) sv *poiveddesip sey epsyepyeurioy jo [Jauls [13uN pases jouog “34 “bs Yo"9 0} "eB T ‘197eM *s]e 9G 0} BOUL Jo “Sq] Z OPAYapTeuloy YIM Sulsds A]1vo Jo [Je} Ul speq youerq *T]0S Mou UO sjURId Jas Vay], ~000eqQ0} PUL a9N7J9] IOj Sv OpAYOPTeWIOJ TEM Spaq Paseasip AI7GSIIs Youerip ‘spoqjoy peseasip plo PAvosIp !qvos 0je 30d A0j Se S}O01 Paes O7BSIUINY 10 YROG| “lerj1ed ATuo Apouray = *saiods [] py 0} JeayM pUe S}¥O IOF Se pass year, ‘Apourlor & JOU SI 3Nq S}ULTd pa}IeWe So}e[NUII}S JoJUM OUI] + “Ssnos1osuEp ssoy S[ Plo a10Ur Jo 1va4 DUO Pos UOIJ [Jos poye1s9zUISIP A]YSNOI0Y} :aaoqe paqliosap Se UIS}S YIM [los JeOH, : “(GhT UNeTING eeg) “NWS VOTO UT JAUULUT Joye SpAYEP[VULOY VSN [los pazoaJU! UO !quds 10} SY apAYAP|UIO] UL Paes YEO] ----+-- qeos 10] se opsq - ‘ -OpleulLloy Ul pass yEOG) *pasn oq ALU SBS SPAYSP[EWAIOJ IOS BaTp | ++ eee eee ayeullyqns -qeos uo JuRId pue Ap ual} :a}BULI[Gns VAISO1IOD UL INOY suo JO epAYap[ewW.Ao} UL SINOY OM} IO} peas Yeo ‘ ‘1epuayed Avidg seg “Ssyueyd Jo uldeids YBno1q} pass jo uoreyuI UMOp daoy *(Seplolsuny Japun poyzour jo Uor}dl1osep 9ag) “SanoY gF 0} Fz Jo POltod vB IO S9}zV1D LIS Jo Safid pasojIue Ul ses opAYap[eUsio} YR ‘SUOIUO AIP 9} OsUISIP 0} eye sun . cs See "++ T8948 YI [IOS Jeayy ttrsss]1OS UL OLITTyIING ters JoqzeM-qns Jo yarn wrea}s YHA [10s oztT1103g pains. urvoqs YIM azitie}s 10 apAyepteur 10} YIM spaq youarq dase cenee ‘apAyepleui0og trees sss -apsqapreuni0 gy UIB9}S YIM TIOS eZITLIaIg PAISO1109 10 apsYapyeur -10} UL pees ynoun yeog rie cibletere'y xnveplog qqIM doid BUIMOIs ay} ABIdg ++ SBZ opAy “OPTEUIOY YIM Joystiq) ule1# pai0}s Ul s}IesUT vtretts anus BUuLyUnS caratalstou tess JnUISs as00'T asoudriyyuy asnoyjzoy Ul sepoyewayy ++ gsnoyj}oY Ul oI-yUIOg lasnoyyoy ul sepozeueyT “*4O01-Pag Pue 701-J00y asouselyyoy lasnoyzoY Ul SepozyeUayT| “+ (ByUOYDOZIY) 9779S0y, “qpog sreresees=* SIOI-B3RIOIG tre teeese sees *qoor-qntg] + o1-WIa}g pure 3O1-yORTg] “*(W3Nq) esouseayquy|- J9TOLA er) Giang er ror oyeuoy, oaseqoy, “oJe}Og J2aMg op alahs ciocenans auseas esas asy sasoy oye10g + wag wong INAWLVAUL JO GOHLAW INADA LVANL GaLvanl LVHM 10a INV1d 40 aaas Pepnpu0nd SLNANLVaaL TIOS GNV duaas 346 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 ROOT DISEASES AND ROOT-ROT FUNGI OF ORCHARDS Diseases upon the roots of herbaceous plants are very commonly due to soil infesting parasites. As explained under that topic, the soil conditions may be favorable to certain parasitic organisms or without being especially suited to them soils become infested with fungi which tend to remain indefinitely and become a source of loss in crops and effort. See lettuce rosette, tobacco root-rot, potato dry-rot and root-rot of violet. The root-rots of woody growths are commonly more or less truly wood invading fungi of the semi-parasitic type and become of interest to foresters as wellas orchardists. A partial exception to this wood-invading character of these root-rot fungi is found in a recently discovered development of the tobacco and violet root-rot fungus, Thielavia basicola Zopf., upon catalpa seedlings in nursery. However, since even tree seedlings in their early stages have not developed their woody tissues to any great extent, they are susceptible to the same root parasites as are found on herbs. ‘This will likely explain cases like that cited on catalpa and the trouble may pass as the seedlings become older. Yet it must be confessed that this still raises a ques- tion as to the effect of the general parasitism of even Thielavia upon the rootlets of trees like catalpa. In forest woodlots, root-rots are likely to become of increasing effect. Wherever these tend to limit the reproduction of certain species in the woodlot, they will be injurious. In this respect they may prove an added reason for the rotation of conifers with decid- uous growths. In coppice or cut-over lands such as prevail in the charcoal furnace districts of Ohio, the roots and stumps of the parent stem must be an eventual menace to the'new growths which spring up about them. The exposure to the wood fungi which become timber or heart-rot sorts will be very great in all such cases. The gradual invasion of the new growths must often occur when these approach a size that gives a considerable heartwood cylinder. These are the great sources of trouble in coppice reproduction of timber trees. Root-rots in orchard plantings are known more especially when these are made following oak and other species somewhat after the manner of coppice conditions. The rhizomorphic development of these root-rots is difficult to determine but is usually referred to Agaricus melleus (Armillaria mellea). See root-rots of apple, peach, etc. An especial feature to be noted in root-rots of all sorts are the soil conditions as to excess moisture and aeration of the soil. In silty or clay soils of close texture and coagulable nature, with excess moisture, serious conditions arise. Any traces of root-rot fungus DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 347 under such conditions will involve increased risks. The necessity for drainage will usually be apparent and due consideration of the limits of certain orchard trees needs also to be given. Cherry trees and even peach and apple trees will not survive under moisture con- ditions wherein plum and pear trees may grow with profit. Orchard replants in ‘‘clinker’”’ locations wherein failures have been numerous, will raise these questions of root-rots and relative adaptability of different orchard trees. Rotation planting, as pear or plum after apple, plum after cherry, etc., may at times succeed and replace unsightly gaps in the orchard by flourishing trees of another sort. At present, drainage and aeration are our known methods of restricting root-rots under out-door conditions. PARASITIC FOLIAGE DISEASES Foliage diseases of every sort are caused by oxygen loving or aerobic species of parasites, and very often this development on the leaves consists of the imperfect forms of the fungus life history. ‘These forms are none the less aggressive and injurious for this reason, but the exact manner of survival from year to year becomes important wherever not known.. ‘The application of this to prevent- ive measures in the control of these diseases upon foliage and fruit is seen in the case of apple scab, the monilia rot of plums, peaches, cherries, etc., and in apple bitter-rot. These last two rot troubles survive in the “mummy”? or dry rotted fruits and this explains the reason for the oft repeated injunction to destroy all “‘mummies” in addition to spraying operations. ‘The bitter-rot of apples is propa- gated by means of summer branch cankers on the tree, as brought out-in recent years. Other leaf forms survive on the fallen leaves or possibly in bud scales as with the leaf curl and “‘bladders”’ of the Exoascae. A large number must live over on the branches. Parasites upon foliage soon become apparent from the spots on the leaves and dropping of fruit resulting. This dropping may come asaresult of impaired vigor by reason of disease—‘then it is later, but is more often the direct result of parasitic attack by the disease upon the young fruits. Herein as elsewhere the philoso- phy. of fungicides comes to our relief. A good foliage fungicide is a relatively insoluble compound which will not greatly injure the leaves with which it is in contact. The remedies for foliage troubles are applied in anticipation of attack and for the purpose of checking the fungus when it may appear. ‘The relative efficiencies of various fungicides in early summer will possibly depend upon the sticking qualities of the sprays. 348 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Foliage diseases, moreover, are liable to recur each year and - tnis is an added reason for anticipatory treatments to ward them off. - Foliage diseases may not be neglected with impunity since the leaf ts the plant's vital working organ and the plant must suffer from its im- pairment. BITING AND SUCKING INSECTS AND LEAF DISEASES The part played by insects which wound the leaf epidermis, in the spread of leaf diseases, is often very important. Such wounding Fig. 22. Showing sections of blades of oats attacked by green lice (aphides), The right hand specimen shows type of injury re- sulting from the sucking of the aphis. In case these lice are carry- ing the organisms of oat blade blight, this sucking will lead to infection by the disease. (From a photograph by T. F. Manns), of the leaf or green stem whether by insects such as flea beetles, foliage eat- ing worms, or by sucking insects such as mites, leaf hopp- ers and plant lice, opens the way for the spores of para- sitic fungi or of bac- teria or mere molds, any one of which may be injurious to the leaf. The eariy blight disease of ’ potatoes is a good example. In seasons when there aremany of these little black flea-beetles to punc- ture the leaves, the thorough control of both these insects and the early blight, Alternaria fungus, is called for. ' Many fungi of doubtful penetrating powers are truly injurious when they follow in- sect puncturesof the leaves. Fortunately both these are se- cured by Bordeaux sprays. The reasons for such applications are of double character since they are to combat both the insect and the fungus to follow it. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 349 With shade trees the leaf hoppers and mites may be so numer- ous that tip-burn and various leaf dying results from the injuries or punctures they inflict. A more startling relation is that of the blade blight of oats, a recently investigated bacterial trouble. This bacterium is distributed and inoculated very obviously by the aphids or green flies (plant lice), and other sucking insects which prevailed during the seasons of 1907 and 1908 upon oats almost throughout Ohio. For fuller details see Blade Blight under Oats, and Bulletin 210. WOUNDS AND WOUND INFECTION With woody growths, especially in trees which attain considerable size, we have the various phenomena of disease infection through wounds; this infection later becoming evident by reason of decays set upin the woody tissues. Of course, in instances such as the bark disease of the chestnut, Diaporthe parasitica Murr., the dis- ease may penetrate the living tissues. Not so, generally, in wounds of woody plants. Any large woody growth, as in forest or shade trees and in larger fruit trees, shows the combination of an external or living sapwood layer Winget Reel atacoen wae and an internal dead or _ heart- — with large branch cut off. Below this wood cylinder. The commoner forms jytinay nas iia yen Ani ae of wound infections are attributable cap is nine inches across, This shade to those species of fungi which cause ane oe ome ee decay of this dead heartwood. Among pole. (From a photograph by J. M. these are the long list of saprophytic, Smee" agarics, polypores and stereums. Because of the fact that this heartwood cylinder is dead, these saprophytic species of fungi, once they gain entrance into it, flourish there and invade the wood toa very great extent, even by adaptation to parasitic habit extending their work into the living parts causing death. The removal ofa large branch of a shade tree or a fruit tree, unless the wound thus 350 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 formed is properly protected by dressing, opens the way for spores of these fungi which cause timber decay to obtain a start and thus eventually to invade the heartwood of the interior. For dressing cut. off branches, asphaltum is admirable; in its lack gas tar is good, and either is better than ordinary paints. Fig. 24. A wound parasite (Pleurotus ulmarius) on the trunk of a maple tree. (After Freeman, Minnesota Plant Diseases). There is always to be borne in mind that the protection of the woody cylinder of trees depends on its being covered by the living layer of sap wood. Every branch of considerable size connects directly with the extensive heart cylinder; we thus see that the wound fungi which attack the heart wood are the timber decays and their presence emphasizes the need for care in providing protection for all wounds, especially those caused by pruning. i Any decay becoming established inthe dead heartwood may extend for long distances through this dead wood and in the end so destroy it as to be ina position to invade the external or sapwood _ layer. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 351 In addition to the exposure of the internal woody cylinder to these decays, we have sap-rots due to various species of fungi which belong on the border line between the parasitic and saprophytic sorts: Among them are species of Fomes, Polyporus, Lenzites, etc. Any wound of the sapwood even though it does not reach to the dark heart- wood, exposes to the danger of this infection, and with infection, to all the consequences of sapwood decay and premature death of the tree.- These decays and those of heart- wood are inline with those of the rots of structural timbers, but we are at this time interested only in their effects on the parts of the living plants. TIMBER ROTS AND TIMBER PRESERVATION The decay of dead logs, wood- en frameworks, or other structural timbers is caused by the attacks of .saprophytic fungi belonging to the gill and pore fungi mentioned under wounds; these are of the great class of basidium bearing fungi, to which the fleshy forms, everywhere more or less abundant, belong. ‘The most of them are included in the “‘mushrooms,’ which there is a Fig. 25. Another wound parasite (a strong impulse now to study and sett ol Sir The fungus ain’ illustrate by photogra phs. ‘These tree (an oak), and as shown by the fungus timbers are dead and are subjected [ting tates, is etadully, rorresing to invasion by timber infecting the photograph was taken, (After Free- species wherever the conditionsas _™"" toair and moisture are suchas to favor their development. Dry timbers are not subject to such attack because lacking the requisite moisture for the organism. Floors and other timbers of houses adjacent to the earth or to unheated cellars are often attacked by rot-causing species. The timbers of trestles, railway ties and the bases of fence, telephone and telegraph posts, where inserted into the earth or in contact withit, are kept sufficiently moist to invite attacks of this sort. 352 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Wood that has been invaded by such fungi is reduced to the state called punk: that is, the wood fibers and arrangement in vessels to which the timber owes its strength, are broken down by the invasion of the fungus which flourishes at the expense of this woody tissue. There is no help for timber after it has once been attacked by rot fungi. Whatever preventive measures are taken must precede the attack. The most effective means of timber preservation is to cause it to be injected or permeat- ed with creosote or other antiseptics. This is done by plac- ing the timbers in vats containing the solution and extract- ing the air from the timbers so far as possible. The per- manence of the effects of such tim- ber treatment de- pends upon the resistance offered by the material used to f] gradual solution by water. In the case of creosote the re- sults are quite satis- factory; with chlorid ° of zinc, subsequent Fig. 26. Fruiting bodies of the fatty Pholiota (Phol/ota adipose, solution takes place in a wound of an oak tree trunk. (After Freeman). ; : : \ too readily, while with crude petroleum there isa tendency toward the evaporation of this substance when injected. The increasing cost of timber will stimulate timber treatments by making treatment profitable. One drawback at present is the necessity toimport creosote for use in such work; possibly refiinery by-products from petroleum of a character analogous to asphaltum may find application in timber treatment. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 353 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AS AFFECTING PLANT DISEASES The relation between weather and the prevalence of certain ; plant diseases has been often recorded. The diseases which prevail are none the less parasitic, the difference exists solely in the temperature and moisture conditions of the atmosphere. Here we must distinguish clearly between the cause of the diseases and the conditions which favor the given diseases. Certain parasitic fungi develop more rapidly under cooler con- ditions than the normal or average while others are favored by higher temperatures; all fungi are favored by large amounts of moisture when these stop short of water immersion and shutting out the needed air. In temperature we have an optimum which usually lies within certain maximum and minimum limits for any given species, but this temperature optimum varies with the organism; it is a matter which admits of exact determination for any organism. As to moisture, an abundant supply of water is the optimum for most fungi with which we deal in plant disease investigations. In these atmospheric conditions of temperature and moisture the seasons of the year, in our climate, vary one with another. The seasons of heavy rainfall are commonly those of low temperatures by reason of the check on temperatures exerted by evaporation. Further, our weather service records show a tendency for our seasons to come in groups of cooler alternating with groups of warmer seasons; that is, we may have several years as with 1904 to 1907 (excepting parts of 1906) in which the mean monthly tempera- tures of those months which affect crops were decidedly below the normal or average. Evidently this normal lying as it does between the extremes, is surpassed by the warmer seasons which are said to be above normal. We have likewise, other alternating groups of years in which the season’s temperatures are decidedly above the normal, The effects of these cool seasons upon diseases are most clearly shown in outbreaks of leaf-curl of the peach and plum bladders in early season, and of potato late blight and rot, Phytophthora infes- tans, upon the potatocrop. It is understood that plenty of moisture is the usual accompaniment ofa cool season; from the combined effect of this supply of moisture and cool weather we have outbreaks of the potato disease even in northern Ohio where it does not appear certainly to survive from year to year. Such groups of cool seasons culminate as arule in particularly injurious outbreaks of the potato Phytophthora with us;in more northerly situations, the disease is present nearly every season, but the outbreaks culminate with favorable weather conditions of excessive rains and lowered temperatures. 354 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Stress has been laid upon the downy mildew of potato and cucumber respectively. It must not be inferred that other diseases do not offer like contrasts between dry, hot seasons and those of heavy precipitation and low temperatures accompanied by relatively high atmospheric humidity. Mention has already been made of the greater prevalence of the shot-hole disease of the plum and leaf-spot of cherry, Cylindrosporium padi, in rainy seasons over drier ones. The same facts will apply with respect to practically all external parasites of plants as in the scab fungus on the apple, the rot of plum, cherry and peach, and to the countless number of foliage diseases with which we deal from year to year. Contrasting with the potato Phytophthora is the allied disease of curcurbits, the downy mildew, lasmopara cubensis, which appears to flourish during our hot seasons and to disappear during the cool ones where grouped as above described. The writer has suggested that this Plasmopara does not survive in our climate but is carried northward each year by its conidia alone; the extent of spread will thus be limited by the length of period favorable to it. This period must be one of relatively high temperatures since this parasite is more widely distributed near the tropics. All these instances only make more clear the intricacies of the mutual adaptations of parasite and host which have resulted from the long periods in which these dwell together. MEAN SUMMER TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL IN OHIO, 1883-1909 Mean temperatures degrees Fahr. Mean Rainfall, inches Year Three 3 Mos. May June_| July -|August|/months}| May June | July |August] Total Mean inches 58.0 69.0 72.1 68.2 69.8 5.72 4.25 4.16 .88 | 10.29 60.4 71.1 71. 70.8 71.1 3.87 2.96 3.83 45 8.24 59.5 67.1 7. 68.9 70.4 3.97 4.34 3.20 .33 | 13.87 62.2 67.5 72. 70.9 70.1 23 3.53 2.88 .62 | 10.03 66.0 71.0 71. 77.9 75.6 87 3.85 2.16 .39 8.40 58.8 70.4 72, 70.4 71.0 77 3.41 4.4 16 | 12.97 60.2 7 72. 69.1 69.4 aa 4.13 4.25 -50 9.88 59.2 73.3 3B. 68.8 71.7 5.52 4.50 Led -70 | 11.19 68.0 71.0 69. 70.0 70.0 -20 4.82 3.82 .O7 | 11.71 59.0 73.0 2B. 71.0 72.3 6.32 5.61 3.80 -99 | 12.40 58.3 70.6 14. 70.7 71.9 4.97 3.34 2.49 17 8.00 60.0 71.3 “ 71.2 72.3 4.00 2.65 1.56 67 5.88 61.1 72.0 Vis 73.5 72.4 1.80 2.47 2.00 96 7.43 67.9 69.5 73.2 71.8 71.5 2.67 4.81 8.11 38 6.30 66.3 68.1 75.5 69.4 71.0 3.93 2.85 4.65 -72 | 10.22 61.0 71.9 76. 73.5 73.5 4.10 2.96 3.98 4.50 | 11.34 63.3 71.5 74.1 73.7 73.1 4.32 2.96 4.18 82 96 62.9 69.8 74.1 76.3 73.4 2.40 2.99 4.62 .68 | 11.29 59.0 70.9 fim! 73.1 74.0 69 4.38 2.73 .82 | 10.43 62.6 66.9 74, 67.4 69.0 09 7.48 4.69 .67 | 13.84 63.9 64.4 72. 70.7 69.3 82 3.97 3.67 -20 | 10.84 60.7 68.4 71.4 68.8 69.5 ia 2.88 4.13 2.74 9.7 60.7 69.2 73. 71.7 71.3 63 4.72 3.93 4.46 | 13.11 61.3 69.8 72, 74.6 72.2 17 3.41 5.14 77 | 13.32 54.5 65.6 723 69.5 69.2 AT 4.57 5.36 48 | 12.41 62.8 69.2 23. 71.2 71.4 4.72 2.52 4.08 .59 9 68.7 70.1 | *69.6 | *70.3 70.0 4.72 5.86 | *4.05 | *5.21 6.04 Ohio, ’83-’09 ...... 60.6 69.6 73.44 | 71.3 71.4 3.88 3.93 4.08 3.12 | 10.82 * Records Wooster only, not included in other than 1909 averages. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 355 The blade blight of oats, a bacterial disease, has been found to be much influenced if not largely controlled by atmospheric con- ditions and perhaps more especially those of the earlier summer. These factors have been recently presented bya bulletin of this Department (See Bulletin 210). This publication contains a fuller table with respect to early summer atmospheric conditions. The _development of the Fusarium blight and dry-rot fungus as a wide- spread and serious disease of potato plants causing premature dying and reduced yields is of interest here. The outbreaks in Europe seem to be associated with atmospheric conditions in spring and early summer. We need fuller studies on these inter-relations. Insistence is here again made upon the observed relations between atmospheric conditions and parasitic diseases of plants that the grower may be stimulated to greater effort at close observation when the need exists and the student may be aided in his interpre- tation of the vast array of apparently inconsistent and complex facts by which he is to be instructed. REMEDIES FOR PLANT DISEASES--FUNGICIDES In no other line of applied science has America made more rapid progress than in the matter of plant disease remedies. While the genera! doctrine of parasitism and the transmission of parasitic diseases are thoroughly investigated and widely published in Europe, the application of remedies and the interest in disease prevention fall much behind the practices in America. Indeed, the writer’s attention was in 1908-9 forcibly called to this matter by the statement of a prominent American Pathologist as to the relatively great advancement in America ove: the old world in this regard. Prob- ably this greater progress is due to the greater readiness with which Americans engaged in crop production, accept the teachings of scientists and make practical applications of the results obtained. Among remedies for plant diseases we must include all treat- ments which tend to restrict or prevent the recurrence of diseases, that is, alltreatments which remedy infections or limit the spread of parasitic attack. SEED AND SOIL TREATMENT Seed and soil treatments naturally belong here; while somewhat full discussion has been given on pages 342-345, it is necessary to recall the measures employed in seed treatments as well as in soil disinfections. In the seed treatments high temperatures, as in the hot water, or the application of a germicide as in solutions of formaldehyde are applied to the seed grain todestroy adhering 356 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 spores. In the treatment of tubers and rootsas the potato, etc., longer soakings with solution of formaldehyde or corrosive sublimate are required to kill not only external spores but resting forms of fungi such as sclerotia, etc. With soil treatments we have the problem of killing out soil infesting organisthns such as nematodes or eelworms and Rhizoctonia, Botrytis, lettuce drop, etc., among the fungi. All these results are obtained by thoroughly steaming the soil. In a measure the same results are also obtained from a formaldehyde drench as elsewhere described. Fumigation for the destruction of seed infesting fungi or cutting infesting insects is of the same character and must be named here. The fumigation of nursery cuttings with hydro-cyanic gas is effective as is also the fumigation of stored grain with carbon bisulfid. We must also consider that wound coverings are methods of prevention in plant disease, since these coverings of asphaltum creosote, gas tar, paraffine and even of paint serve the purpose of excluding wound fungi which might otherwise cause serious decays. All these treatments that have just been enumerated apply to the treatment of the soil or of seeds and plants in resting condition. The great problem of keeping down infection during the growing period yet remains for the application of spray mixtures. SPRAYING WITH FUNGICIDES--INSOLUBLE COPPER COMPOUNDS The progress made in the control of plant diseases through sprays since Millardet’s discovery of Bordeaux mixture (bouillon bordelaise) near Bordeaux, France, in 1883 shows how great was then and is still, the need for effective fungicides. The materials from which Bordeaux mixture is made consist of copper sulfate (blue vitriol) calcium oxid and hydroxid (caustic lime) and water. In the making of the mixture the copper sulfate is dissolved in water and should be diluted with a considerable amount of water; the lime is slaked or converted into lime putty from which a milk of lime is prepared. These two mixtures with the copper sulfate in aqueous solution and calcium hydroxid in suspension, mixed together makea chemical reaction by which the calcium in the lime displaces in part the copper in the copper sulfate, forming on one hand calcium sul- fate or gypsum, and on the other the various combinations of lime with the metallic copper thus liberated. The actual reactions have been variously interpreted. More recent investigations show that several basic sulfates of copper and lime are produced. Whether any hydroxid of copper is produced has been questioned by Picker- ing, an English investigator. The light blue coloris due to suspended DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 357 particles of these com pounds which are evidently the effective avents in fungicidal action. ‘These insoluble light blue copper compounds which, in this divided condition, are held in suspension in the liquid give it the characteristic color. The essential needs in making Bordeaux mixture are the presence of enough or even an excess of the base, calcium (lime), so that none of the copper will remain in soluble form as sulfate. This on the other hand involves the more or less complete change of the soluble copper into relatively insol- uble, blue-colored copper compounds of another sort. The philosophy of spray action is based first of all upon the absence of injurious effects from the lime products and from the copper compounds produced, when sprayed upon green foliage. In the second place, upon the effectiveness of these insoluble copper compounds through solution in the presence of moisture and carbon dioxid in the atmosphere, to destroy or prevent the growth and development of parasitic fungi. The time during which these insol- uble copper compounds will be effective must depend upon the rate of growth in the plant parts and the adhesiveness of the application. The essential feature to be remembered is this; the insoluble or slowly soluble copper compounds become available by solution as needed. Where excess of fungicide is employed this has a certain danger upon apple or other foliage during showery weather and in all cases the strength is adapted to the host crop. Coincident with the spraying period there is frequent complaint of injury to apple foliage. Here we have solution effected more rapidly than is safe for the host; normally this risk is slight, but may be overcome by necessary modifications. Another matter is the amount, the number of gallons of the given fungicide to use; with more complete spraying appliances and high pressure of appli- cation, larger amounts and more complete covering of the parts are the rule. Recent results show that when the amount of copper in the mixture is near to the danger line these heavier applications increase the risk. In the early translations from the French the strength of Bor- deaux mixture was placed higher than is now the practice. For Ohio the following formula has been the rule for many years: STANDARD BORDEAUX MIXTURE Copper sulfate (blue vitriol).........ccc660 ceeeeeeees 4 pounds. Caustic lime (unslaked).........:ccsssesseseeee coeeeees 4 pounds. Water to make... ieee ceeeee ceeeeceeeeneeeeeneees 50 gallons. This is a 4-4-50 formula—a 2-2-50 formula is also used at times. In making Bordeaux mixture, the copper sulfate may be dis- solved in hot water (about 2 gallons) or better by suspending the sulfate contained in cheese-cloth sack, in a large vessel of cold water. 358 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 By using large quantities of both blue vitriol and water, say 50 pounds of copper sulfate and 50 gallons of water, a stock solution may be prepared, so that each gallon will contain one pound of the blue vitriol. In each case the solution of copper sulfate should be diluted say to one-half of tank capacity before admixture with the milk of lime. The quicklime is slaked and then stirred to make milk of lime, adding water as needed to dothis. The necessary amount of this milk of lime should be diluted to about 40 or 50 percent of the tank capacity and then run intoa mixing tank with equal flow of corre- ~sponding volume of copper sulfate solution before same is run into spray tank or barrel, All Bordeaux mixture formulae are useful as a vehicle in which arsenical sprays are added to serve as insecticides. THE USE OF STICKERS IN SPRAY MIXTURES Some experiments made in different parts of the country have shown beneficial results from the use of other materials added, such as sugar solution, soap, resin soap, etc., to increase the adhesiveness of the spray. In some spraying experiments by the Entomological Department of this Station, laundry soap was used effectively as a sticker to hold arsenical compounds in checking the berry worm or grape worm (See Circular No. 63). The writer has proposed a modification of Bordeaux mixture which has been called ‘“‘Bordeaux Mixture and Iron Sticker.” The following formula has been recommended: BORDEAUX MIXTURE AND IRON STICKER Copper sulfate (blue vitriol).........cceccsceeseecesees 2 pounds. Iron sulfate (copperas)..........ccssssssssesseeceeees 2-4 pounds. Caustic: Mimesssecs giedises sevacestsavvadepeen sere: aveceicen 4-6 pounds. Water fomake wi. siguasesnaneiaseccnarceustaiaesieecarten 50 gallons, In this spray the iron sulfate is added in order that it may be precipitated by the lime and serve asa more complete sticker than is provided by the standard Bordeaux mixture. It would appear possible by the weak solution as given for the copper compound and by this possible efficient sticker to make the reduced amount of the copper sulfate do the work as fungicide just as effectively and with less risk of foliage injury than with the standard Bordeaux mixture. The trials made up to this time upon apples in full foliage, upon grapes and upon potatoes indicate that the spray is efficient. The iron sulfate ts not considered a fungicide. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 359 SOLUBLE COPPER COMPOUNDS AS SPRAYS Whenever it becomes necessary to continue spraying upon fruit as ripening approachesa more soluble copper compound than Bordeaux mixture must be employed or the spray will remain upon the fruit at marketing. The remaining spray, if excessive, injures the marketable character of the crop. Various sprays have been proposed for use at these critical times. The call for them has come in keeping down the black-rot on the grape and in the control of the several late season diseases of fruit, like the bitter-rot and black-rot of apple. The most satisfactory soluble copper sprays appear to be ammoniacal solution of copper carbonate or Soda Bor- deaux mixture. ; For the former the following formula is given: AMMONIACAL SOLUTION OF COPPER CARBONATE Copper’ Carbon aterwrcassiesinessuneesecsisasisawcmsersnnannye 6 ounces. ATMODI A) cin ceanweaniiyiten nexeeveoniannandhemeiwedstwess about 3 pints. (Enough to dissolve the copper carbonate and no more). Water €0: Makes tcc ccise cadiecntesecnaamsidand sadacea cons 50 gallons. This isan effective spray made according to formula for the late applications upon grape and upon appleas maturity approaches. Itis to be understood that this formula is not intended to make “eauceleste’’ which is a different preparation. No more than enough ammonia is added to convert the copper carbonate from insoluble to soluble form in the presence of water. A soluble salt of ammonia and copper is really produced. The proper times at which to make applications of fungicide as sprays has been carefully worked out in practice and directions are included in the spray calendars. There isa good reason in nearly every case for making the applications at the time recommended, since these sprays are timed to check the development of the parasite; if put on too long in advance the spray may be displaced, if put on too late the damage will occur without a possible means of prevention. All sprays as stated before are made in anticipation or in advance of actual danger from parasitic diseases. SULFUR COMPOUNDS AS FUNGICIDES Various preparations of the sulfids of alkalis and alkaline earths have been proposed as fungicides. A larger use has been made of the lime-sulfut formulae which have come into use largely for check- ing scale insects. These mixtures are made by boiling together caustic lime and flowers of sulfur in the presence of water. By this heating process a combination is effected between the calcium and the sulfur, and sulfids of various compositions are formed. For practical purposes the color reactions are used as a guide. This spray applied , 360 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 in the dormant period or just as the buds are swelling is effective against the scale insects and is also efficientasafungicide. The lime-sulfur has very largely displaced other fungicides against leaf- curl of the peach. More recently the self-boiled lime-sulfur formula has been proposed. It promises to be effective upon peach trees in foliage. This isa much more dilute formula than the one used upon dormant trees; both are described in the spray calendar. Latterly, various dilutions of the lime-sulfur residues formed when lime and sulfur are boiled together, have come into use as sprays for orchard use. SOLUTIONS FOR SEED TREATMENTS AND DISINFECTION: FORMALDEHYDE SOLUTIONS Formaldehyde in 40 percent solution is obtained upon the market. Solutions of this 40 percent compound in water are effective in seed and soil treatments and for disinfection. The following are standard strengths: For oats and wheat, 1 1b, or pint 40% formaldehyde to 40 or 50 gals. water, For potato scab and rosette, % pint of formaldehyde to 15 gals. water. For onion smut, 1 1b. of formaldehyde to 25 or 33% gals. of water. For soil drench, 2 to 4 1bs, of formaldehyde to 50 gals. of water. CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE SOLUTION For treatment of potato tubers and for laboratory disinfection, mercuric chlorid, corrosive sublimate, is used as follows: Corrosive sublimate 00... .....cccceccsecsscsnesseeuee one 2 ounces. Water nis isise ceases ceasreanena nen le @atiaieeey 15% gallons, GASEOUS DISINFECTION WITH FUNGICIDES Latterly the methods used for the disinfection of houses wherein patients have suffered from contagious diseases such as diphtheria, scarlet fever, etc., have been extended to the treatment of plant diseases. The following formula of the Maine Board of Health is applicable to the details below given: FORMALDEHYDE GAS Commercial 40% formaldehyde ...........cccscecceee 3 pounds, Potassium permanganate crystals .........0...... 23 ounces. Sufficient for 1000 cu. ft. of space occupied by crates or trays. . The following suggestions from the spray calendar of 1908 will be helpful tostudents or experimenters who have not access to other literature: “Enclose open tiers or piles of slat crates filled with dry onions, potatoes, etc., in tight room or oiled tent of canvas buried in earth about the base. Generate the formaldehyde gas in a flat bottomed DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 361 dish or pan of adequate capacity by placing one of the materials, as the, liquid formaldehyde, in the pan, and adding the other the last thing before retiring. Then close tight and allow to remain closed 24 to 48 hours. -Proportionate or multiple unit amounts may be taken for smaller or larger enclosed spaces. Applicable to fumigation of seed potatoes for scab, sweet potatoes for rot troubles and to newly gathered, dry onions before storing for winter. For grain elevators to disinfect against conditions there or for mass treatment of seed oats and wheatasimilar use is made of formaldehyde gas. ROT DISEASE LOSSES IN STORAGE No sharp Jine can be drawn between diseases of edible plant products which usually infect these crops previous to harvest, and the rots, molds or decays in such fruits and vegetables during storage. It has seemed best, for this reason, to insert here a brief discussion of these storage troubles which apply to products grown in our region. We can scarcely be called on to present the facts concerning the diseases of citrus fruits in storage or in transit. All growers of fruits and vegetables in our state are liable, _ however, to have had losses from rots of fruits and vegetables during storage upon the farm. Inthe more recent custom of concentrating such storage products in cold storage plants, especially constructed for that purpose, the prohlem has only been transferred or trans- planted: the difficulties have not been entizely overcome.. For the fruits known as perishable, namely, for peaches, plums, cherries and grapes, the custom of brief storage has become well established; the rots or other injuries, such as those that come from crushing, are well known. ‘The storage rots are not different from those commonly found in the orchards—indeed, they are usually the common soft-rot of stone fruits, Monzlia fructigena. Storage or transit losses from it are but an accentuation of orchard con- ditions. Also with the stone fruits, as a result of bruising and shipment, we have various of the common molds which develop on the bruised surfaces. ‘The more usual ones are the common bread mold, Mucor, the blue mold, Penzcillium, or the almost equally frequent form of green mold, Aspergillus. None of these, how- ever, is likely to penetrate very deeply and bea serious enemy of these fruits. This arises, however, not so much out of the lack of ability toinjure by these mold attacks, as from the very brief period of time which these tender skinned stone fruits are held before consumption. As has been pointed out by Powell and Smith, the * 362 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 same common molds, including especially Penicillium, possibly with the aid of others, are sources of serious loss in the handling of citrus fruits—oranges, lemons, etc., during their prolonged periods of transit and storage. In the case of grapes the losses are almost altogether due to breaking of the skin following which molds and bacteria are liable to appear under favorable conditions. STORAGE ROTS OF APPLES AND PEARS With apples the commonest storage rot for our district is doubt- less also the commonest orchard rot, namely, black-rot, due to the- black-rot fungus, Sphaeropsis malorum Berk. All are familiar with orchard conditions liable to prevail at ripening time. ‘This fungus is generally found, especially in orchards of mixed varieties, because some sorts are commonly attacked by it. The same fungus causes cankers upon branches of the susceptible varieties and is usually well distributed over orchards. The punctures of worms or of bees, or wounds caused by mechanical injuries such as occur in wind-falls, and the various drops at picking time, afford easy entrance for the fungus. In consequence we must expect that the fruits which have been in any way punctured or injured, have also been exposed to infection by the black-rot fungus. Such infected fruits are very liable to rot because of the progress of the fungus, if conditions are favorable. The high temperatures of storage sheds and ordinary freight cars during October and early November in our climate, are such as favor its development. In the light of our present knowledge the best we can dois to transfer fruit as soon as possible to storage where the temperatures are low enough to restrict the fungus. It follows without saying, that good results are obtained only from absolutely sound fruit, and the low temperatures of cold storage houses, 42 degrees or below, may be relied upon to check this rot to a very large extent, provided only sound fruits are placed in storage. Naturally the discussion which follows under the storage of onions will raise the question here as to the practicability of gaseous disinfection of apples by the use of formaldehyde gas. It would seem possible under favorable weather conditions when fruit can be gathered dry and brought into storage houses in that condition, to disinfect the fruits by the formaldehyde gas method. Of course it follows that the period of disinfection will be brief in order that little or no gas will be absorbed by moist or exposed fruit surfaces, since formaldehyde is objectionable in foodstuffs. The time of fumigation may not need to be more than about half that used for potatoes or onions, and the strength of the formula may even be modified. The aim would be the destruction of external spores, etc., which certainly are a menace at all times. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 363 The bitter-rot fungus, (Glomerelia rufomaculans (Berk.) Von Schrenk) may also develop in storage apples where these have become attacked by it before harvest. The bitter-rot may be more common upon late summer and fall varieties in transit, than in ordinary winter storage. Certain sweet apples, such as Bentley Sweet, are very susceptible to bitter-rot losses instorage. Cold storage temper- atures hold back the development of the fungus, but cannot disinfect the diseased fruits. Pear rots with us are almost exclusively those which occur in the orchard. The leaf-spot fungus (Zntomosporium maculaium Lev.) also attacks the fruits of pearand may becomea source of loss in storage. This applies more particularly to inferior grades of fruit. Pacific coast fruit which is shipped to our district, may further suffer from some of the ordinary molds which find access to the fruit entirely through bruised or other injured areas. The brief storage of quinces usually does not lead to much further development of the quince rot. The fungus in question is commonly the same as that in the apple rot, (Sphaetropsis malorum Berk.). STORAGE ROTS OF POTATOES, ONIONS, ETC. With vegetables we have a very wide range of storage troubles. In the case of potatoes we have two general types of rots, namely; wet-rot and dry-rot. The wet-rot of potatoes commonly results from two causes, viz.: The late blight or rot fungus (Phytophthora infes- tans D’By.) may be expected to cause considerable losses of the tubers in storage when these have been gathered from Phytophthora infested fields and bacteria may cause rot ininjured tubers. In Ohio, as stated under this disease of potatoes, the late blight and rot fungus is not commonly prevalent. Perhaps little can be done to preserve the tubers from such fields except to market the crop promptly and to store with especial respect to the optimum con- ditions. ‘The best temperatures for such potatoes will be warmer than for apples, and it is very desirable that moisture be kept as low as possible. 7 A wet-rot of potatoes, purely or very largely bacterial in cause, must also be dealt with. This rot bacterium is different from the bac- terium of potato wilt, (Bacillus solanacearum) and without the latter may also induce considerable decay. It is believed the bacteria pro. ducing this wet-rot gain entrance through injuries to the tubers and that low humidity—dry storage—is especially desirable in keep- ing down losses from this source. 364 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 ‘ Dry-rot of potatoes is due toafungus (Fusarium oxysporum) which appears to belong among our soil infesting fungi. This fungus appears to be the cause of. premature dying of the potato plants and it certainly survives in the tubers from such infected plants. At harvest time, asshown under dry-rot of potato, tubers show infection at the stem end. Subsequently during storage the fungus penetrates more deeply into the tubers and will often produce dry-rot of the infected tubers. Further descriptive matter concern- ing dry rot will be found in the special part of the bulletin under potato. For storage of such infected tubers, as well as for the general crop, it is desirable that storage temperatures be kept about 42 degrees Fahr., or slightly lower. Sweet pobitoss also suffer from a large variety of rot troubles. These sweet potato rots are more or less special in character and since the crop is not largely handled in cold storage, nothing is here offered in addition to what appears in the special part of the bulletin ONION ROTS IN STORAGE Onion rots area serious matter with onion growers and onion deal- ers as well. It has been found that particular varieties of onions in our climate are susceptible to special diseases. For this reason we must consider white onions such. as White Silverskin, White King, etc., ina separate class from the rots of red and yellow onions such as the Globe and Wethersfield varieties. With the white onions the problem is partly a field problem at harvest time, and partly one of storage. The growers are in the habit of gathering the white onions before the tops fall and . topping them immediately, in- stead of throwing together in heaps for absorption of the sub- Fig, 27. A white onion that has been de- stroyed bya blackneck or dry-rot fungus, Sc/e- vrotium cepivorum Berk. This parasite has entered the onion through the green neck which was cut off at the time of harvesting the crop. (Froma photograph by T. F. Manns). stance of the tops by the onion bulbs as is practiced with the riper red and yellow varieties. After topping the white onions are placed in slatted crates, and these crates are stacked in the field or in open sheds where they are kept dry. Often the loss from rot during the six weeks following harvest may reach 60 percent of the DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 365 cro and as shown by investigations in Connecticut and our own state, it has not always been clear why these losses are so large. Recent investigations by this department lead us to believe that the green onion neck of white onions handled in this way affords entrance for the organism of the rot. The sclerotium rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) appears to be the most serious, although smudge or anthracnose of the onion ( Vermz- cularia circinans) may sometimes cause large losses. Both these rots are described under diseases of the onion. The writer believes the Sclerotium rot is the larger criminal, and that both may be handled by disinfection of the onions immediately after harvest. This dis- infection may be carried out as described under the Maine formula for Formaldehyde gas treatment, which is: AN Commercial 40 percent Formaldehyde.............: 3 pounds. Potassium Permanganate crystals..... .........- 23 ounces. Sufficient for 1000 cu. ft. of space occupied by crates or trays. (See page 360). The object of immediate disinfection is to prevent the entrance of these organisms, particularly the sclerotium rot, through the green neck of the newly topped onions. The exuding juices offer favorable culture conditions for the fungus to develop. When no fumigation is practiced following harvest, the onions which are found to be sound and delivered for storage at the close of the season may very profitably be treated in this way before winter storage. Both these rots are essentially dry-rots of onions. In addition, sometimes, we have wet-rot of white onions which may be either due to bacteria or to the same fungus as the wet-rot of Globe or other onions mentioned below. The rots of yellow and red onions are of both the wet-rot and dry-rot types, but the wet-rots are much more serious with these varieties. Doubtless, as in all vegetables held foralong time in storage, we have many cases of wet-rot in onions where some of the common decay bacteria are the chief cause. These find entrance through wounds, as in topping, and, under conditions favorable for their development invade the tissues of the onion and cause decay. In addition however, to the wet-rots due to bacteria of unde- termined ‘species, we have a specific wet-rot of onions due to Fusarium species. This wet-rot fungus belongs to the same group _as the potato dry-rot and is liable to infect soils in which onions are grown year after year. Rotted onions will show external develop- ments of the pink fungus and may be detected in that way as well as by use of the microscope. The chief factors of control with onions of this kind, are in the methods of culture followed to produce the crop. 366 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Dry-rot of red and yellow onions is rather rare and is commonly referable to the anthracnose or Vermicularia dry-rot fungus described under white onions. The best temperatures for onion storage are about 38 to 42 degrees. SPECIAL PART II DISEASES OF OHIO PLANTS. ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY ACCORDING TO HOST PLANT ALDER Powdery Mildews. The alder suffers from several powdery mildew fungi on the leaves (Phyllactinia suffulta Sacc., Erysiphe aggregata, (Pk.) Farl., Microsphaera aini (DC) Wint.) These retard development as with other leaf coverings. Alder may also suffer from two or three leaf infecting diseases such as an anthracnose and a leaf-spot. We have as yet little data concerning other occurrences owing to the neglect of the study. Stem Biights. From England an interesting branch parasite (Dztopella fusispora De Not) has been reported by Plowright. This may or may not as yet occur with us. Root Tubercles. These root developments on the alder and some other woody plants are commonly described as Mycorhiza, The particular organism ( Frankia alni Nor.) has attracted a good deal of attention from students of forest problems in Europe. Investigations of such growths upon the roots of our woody plants is very much needed at this time in Ohio. ALFALFA--LUCERN ~ Anthracnose. Twonew anthracnoses have been discovered attacking alfalfa; the first of these, Colletotrichum trifolii B&E, so far as we know occurring exclusively on plants of this family, the other, Colletotrichum sp., occurring only on alfalfa in northern Ohio. The first one, which we may call clover anthracnose, was discovered in Tennessee and has appeared upon alfalfa as well as red clover in the southern portion of Ohio. It is less prevalent on alfalfa than upon the red clover. Up to this time this disease has not been discovered upon either host in the northern half of the state. The second anthracnose occurred recently upon alfalfa from Sandusky and Carroll counties and has not been described. Both of these diseaseses Show as a specific lesion or diseased spot on the stem or leaf-stalk in the advanced stages of attack. Following this the plants wilt or die and are discovered in this way. The disease is tuo new with us to measure its injuries directly. To the writer it appears less serious than the dodders or the root-rot troubles. Bacterial Blight.(Yellowing). A bacterial blight of alfalfa, of which the causal organism has not been definitely determined, has been reported from Colorado where it appears to be spreading. In 1907 and to a still greater extent in 1908, there was much complaint of general yellowing of leaves of second crop alfalfa in Ohio and adjoining states, even extending to North Carolina. The symptoms were general yellowing of this crop. With brighter, drier weather later the next succeeding crop was of normal color. Bacteria have been found by the Assistant Botanist in connection with this trouble in specimens from eight localities and from four different counties in Ohio during 1908 and 1909. Downy Mildew. The downy mildew fungus (/eronospora trifoliorum D’By) has occurred in Colorado, and is very liable to occur in our state. No sugges- tions can yet be made as to its prevention Leaf-Spot Fungus. This forage plant is grown in parts of Ohio. It is attacked by the leaf-spot fungus ( Pseudopezia medicaginis ( Lib.) Sacc.) which is found upon both leaves and stem. Thesmall dark spots produced by it are easily seen. In (367) 368 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 attempts to produce alfalfa seed at this Station, the fungus has stripped the leaves and seed capsules befcre maturity. It is very likely to prevent success in growing this seed in Ohio, though it is much less injurious to the forage crop proper because of cutting at short intervals. ; Root-Rot. The same parasitic fungus (Fusarium roseum Lk.=Gibberella Saubinetit (Mont.) Sacc.) which attacks wheat in the form of scab and also red clover, has been found killing out alfalfa at Wooster (See Bulletin 203). This fungus may survive in stubble fields where wheat and oats have been grown. It readily kills off the young seedlings of alfalfa and if the soil is not fully prepared for alfalfa seedings, the root-rot may extend its work and further destroy the stand. At present nothing better is known than adequate dressings of lime, preferably raw limestone, for areas to be seeded, together with their proper enrichment. At this time warning is given as to the possible seriousness of this trouble in the future. While not specifically noted in America another root-rot-fungus somewhat known on other crops (Rhizoctonia) has also been reported upon alfalfa from France. Another root-rot fungus (Ozonium omnivorum Shear) well known upon cotton, also attacks alfalfa in the southwest. I believe this is not known to occur in Ohio. Rust. Alfalfa suffers from a rust fungus (Uromyses striatus Schroet) and while it may scarcely have appeared in Ohio, it is almost certain to do soin time. Like the similar leaf diseases of red clover, it may have rather small economic interest. APPLE Bitter-Rot or Anthracnose. In recent years this fungus (Glomerella rufomac- ulans (Berk.) Sp. and Von Schr.) has been investigated and its survival in the mummy fruits and cankered branches proved. (Bulletin 40 Virginia Experiment Station; Bulletin 77, Illinois Experiment Station; Bulletin 40, Bureau of Plant Industry). This bitter-rot is also a ripe-rot, in common with other anthracnoses. For Ohio certain varieties are the chief sufferers; one of these is the Bentley Sweet grown in Belmont county, another is the Rambo. The disease develops in the later season and it seriously impairs both the eating and keeping qualities. For its control the destruction of mummy fruits and Fig. 29. An apple attacked by bitter-rot. Aregular attention to branch cankers are curved outline of the spores will be observed, the conidia necessary in addition to the ap- of the fungus developing in concentric forms under suit- plication of sprays. Since we able conditions. After Alwood. know the life history of the fungus better it has been possible to control the bitter-rot successfully under orchard conditions as the annual sources of infection in mummy fruits and cankers have been mastered. In this late spraying soluble sprays are used toward the end as with the black-rot of the grape. Black-Rot. The black-rot also at times called brown-rot, is apparently more common in the orchards toward the southern portion of the state. The writer has found it a serious matter to control the black-rot fungus ( Sphaeropsis malorum DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 369 Pk.,) which attacks both fruit and branches and is a bar to successful maturity of Northern Spy, Smith’s Cider and some other varieties at certain times. It also invades storage apples and this rot is the most universal one in ordinary cellar storage. With varieties adapted to climatic conditions, methods of hand- ling by sprays and destruction of cankers and mummy fruits should prove as effective as with bitter-rot. Unfortunately the varieties which most commonly suffer from black-rot are those growing beyond their safe range of conditions. Brown-Rot. There is a rarer rot fungus (Sclerotinia (Monilia) fructigena (Pers.) Schrt.) than that of black-rot, which also attacks the apple in some parts of the United States. For our region it is little known on the apple and probably less important than either of the preceding. Brown Spot or Dry-Rot of Baldwin. Very frequent complaint is made of small sunken spots in fine specimens of Baldwin and some other varieties. Internally these sunken spots are dry and somewhat bitter, leading to general breakdown of the apple. These spots have been referred toa particular fungus, (Phyllachora pomigena (Schw.) Sacc.,) but the case is not proved. This internal brown spotting also occurs in Northern Spy and in Fameuse, and we hear complaint of losses from it. The causes of the internal spotting are probably the same in all cases and must in part be regarded as physiological breakdown. New Hampshire Experiment Station (Bulletin 45) succeeded in controlling the form of this. dry-rot on Baldwin by the use of Bordeaux mixture. Some irregularity in results from spraying for it have been recorded elsewhere. Canker. These diseased conditions upon branches may oocur in the propaga- tion of. bitter-rot, but are more commonly referable to the black-rot fungus, (Sphaeropsis malorum Pk.,) or to the blight bacterium (Bacillus anylovor- ws Burr.) (See Bulletin 163, New York Experiment Station and Bul- letin 235, Cornell Experiment Sta- tion) although other fungi are common in Europe as the cause of canker. Among these are species of nectria. Probably the canker due to the black-rot fungus must contest with that due to the blight bacterium for first place in Ohio, and its control is interwoven with the control of the black-rot on fruit. Canker-like dying of the external bark may, and sometimes does, occur without immediate penetra- tion to the inner bark layer or injury to the branch. All these cankerous developments are, how- ever, a source of danger and call for continuous watchfulness. The heme conditions of the fungus attacks are Fig. 29. Apple branches attacked by canker. those of possible rifts in the outer bark followed by the localizing of the fungus development. Those for the blight canker are more extended and include blossom spurs. (See twig blight and pear blight). Itseems probable also that the power of resisting attack varies with the vigor of the branches. Up to this time our remedies have been largely 370 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 the general ones of germicide sprays with addition of scraping off loosened bark where possible; for this purpose a dull tool is. preferable. Some forms which might be called canker on young trunks and on older branches are in fact forms of winter injury from freezing. Types of -branch cankers are somewhat var- iable, but they are all matters calling for close attention. Collar-Rot. (See Sun-Scald). | Coyneum or Orange Leaf-spot. During 1908 and 1909 specimens of an orange leaf-spot have been received, and a severe case of defoliation of apple trees in town was reported from Stark county. This leaf-spot is a central, erumpent pustule with an immediate border of orange yellow: this yellow area shades off into dark color toward the green tissue. Hartley has reported, upon investiga- tions of the fungus in this case, Coryneum follicolum, that it is not actively parasitic. Possibly we have this fungus following something else, after the manner that another fungus follows the black-rot leaf-spot described below. (See also rust of apple). Crown Gall. This disease is especially a nursery trouble of apple and shows its effects by enlargements near the crown or upon other portions of the stem or root. It is quite probably due tothe same organism (Bacterium tumefaciens Erw Sm & Towns) as the olive knot or some other crown galltroubles. This is decidedly an infectious disease which probably calls for inspection of nursery stock, and for great care to provide against diseased trees. Cure of infected plants has not been secured. There is great danger in endeavoring to grow nursery stock upon land which was once infected with the organism. Edema. An Edema or swelling of apple twigs has been described by Atkin- son from New York (Cornell Station, Bulletin 61). This on closely trimmed trees on over fertile soil. Fly-speck Fungus (Lepfothyriun pomi (Mont. & Fr.) Sacc.) This obvious fungus disease in ordinary seasons appears chiefly upon apples grown in low, moist situations. Peck’s Pleasant, Rhode Island Greening, Rome Beauty and several other varieties have been noted as affected by the Sooty Fly- speck troubles which may be identical asto cause. During wet seasons, like that of 1896 and 1909, a few susceptible varieties are liable to be spotted by this parasite whatever be the location of the trees. Aside from selecting high, sunny situations for the apple orchard, spraying with Bordeax mixture will prevent this spot. (See Sooty Fungus). Fruit Blotch. Fruit blotch is a re- cently described fungus (Phyllositcta solitaria, E.&E.) which causes a ser- ious spotting of fruit in a number of ways as described in bulletins of the Illinois and West Virginia Experiment Fig. 30, An apple attacked by the Fly-speck : fungus. The sooty fungus is also abundanton Stations, so that we may expect it to specimen as is usually the case. give trouble in Ohio. As indicated the fruit is attacked by this spotting and in addition the fungus produces small cankers on twigs. Scott has recently shown that it will be fully controlled by three or four sprayings with Standard Bordeaux mixture. (See Bulletin Bureau of Plant Industry). DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 371 Leaf-spot or Frog-eye. There is a common leaf-spot disease of apple trees in which the dead spots show the presence of pycnidia. This troubleis really due to the black-rot fungus (Sphacropsis malorum Pk.) but at times another fungus, {Coniothyrium pirini Sacc.), comes in afterwards. In the later season the second type develops in concentric areas to which the common name of ‘‘Frog. Eye’’ has been given. Yet other forms of leaf-spot due to spray injuries also occur, but are easily distinguishable from the two first named. It has been shown that control of the black-rot fungus keeps the leaf-spot in hand, but early treatments should be made. Mold. A blue mold is very commonly associated with soft rot of apples in storage. The fungus (Penicillium glaucum Lk.) is a very common one and may be regarded as associated with the presence of decay or bruising, not as a first cause of rot. Mildew. The powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca mali (Duby) Burr.) often occurs upon nursery growths of the apple and occaionally upon rather thrifty growing young trees. The dense felt-like covering of the fungus is usually very apparent and the spreading of the fungus upon the foliage is sometimes noticeable. Spray- ing with fungicides usually keeps the trouble in check. Rust. The bright orange growths of this rust fungus (Gymnosporangium macropus Lk., etc., I) are occasionally found on cultivated apple leaves as well as on leaves of wild thorn apples, especially where these are within reach ofthe cedar trees which bear the cedar apples. In 1909 the rust attacked apple fruits in Ohio and Nebraska. These so-called cedar apples are no more than the development of the rust fungus from which the spores are spread to the apple, Crataegus, etc. A remedy in indicated by this statement, viz., get rid of cedar trees. 7 : Root-Rot. Serious root-rot troubles have been reported to us from Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma where orchard plantings have been made quite soon following the clearing of scrub oak, etc. Similar cases have been studied in Ohio where plantings were made soon after the removal of the timber, especially of oaks. One is usually able to identfy the rhizomorphs of the root-rot fungus, (Agaricus melleus L.. (Armillaria mellia) and the characters by the occurrence upon orchard trees and also the original growth is usually quite clear. Any inadequacy of drainage is very serious in connection with root-rot. (See root-rot of peach, etc.). More recently Von Schrenck has identified another fungus (Thelephora galactinia Fe.) with a form of root-rot which shows no superficial symptoms until after the tree is dead; it then shows the orange, leathery sheets. Scab. Apple scab fungus ( Venturia inegualis Aderh, Fusicladium deudriti. cum (Wallr.) Fuckl.) is a common source of large losses in Ohio apple orchards. It attacks first the leaves and afterwards the young fruit, causing it to drop. Aside from injuring the salability of the crop obtained and reducing the vigor of the tree by reason of its attacks on the foliage, scab may prevent a crop altogether because of this dropping of the young apples. The Ohio Station was in the vam of progress in studying this disease, and the work has been steadily followed (Bulletin Vol. IV, No. 9, (1891) B. 79, (1897) B. 111, (1899). Full details may be found in the various bulletins given. Apple scab develops when moisture is abundant during the early months of she season, and low temperatures are usually prevalent at such times. The dropping of apples often attributed to lack of pollination seems more often to be ascribed to the work of scab. All varieties are attacked by scab but some suffer more than others. ee 372 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 The profit from spraying for scab on the apple (including apple worms) has generally been large, because of saving the amount of crop and enhancing its market value at the same time, as well as increasing the number of crops. In this way the crops of a single orchard have been sold for a gain of about $1000 on an expenditure of $125 to $150. At the Station this gain has amounted to $5.00 per tree (B. 111). The best fungicide for this purpose is dilute Bordeaux mixture, or Bordeaux I of the spray calendar, containing 4 pounds of sulfate of copper and 4 pounds of quicklime to 50 gallons of mixture with water, or Bordeaux mixture and Iron Sticker consisting of 2 pounds of copper sulfate, and 2 or 3 pounds of iron sulfate in 50 gallons of water. The Bordeaux mixture and Iron Sticker has given better results in a rainy season like 1909. The first spraying should be made just before the blossoms open, and upon the young leaves, and the second after the blossoms drop, with additions of arsenites in the second and in a possible fourth spraying as stated in the spray calendar. Fig. 31. Young apples attacked by the scab fungus (Venturia inequalis Adeh). Scurf. The branch scurf fungus (Phyllosticta prunicola Sacc.) is believed to occur in Ohio. This causes roughening of the bark, but no statements can now be made as to its possible seriousness. Sooty Fungus. The sooty fungus (Phyllachora pomigena Schw.) is often associated with the fly-speck fungus, previously described, and is the more unsightly trouble of the two. In most seasons the fruit in low situations is DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 373 liable to be rendered unsightly and unsalable by the spots which are illus- trated in Fig. 32. In seasons like that of 1909 the disease may appear on unsprayed trees in practically all situations. It was found in comparative tests of Bordeaux mixtures and self-boiled lime-sulfur for apple scab and other fungi, at the Carpenter test farm, that the sooty fungus appeared on the fruit on the lime-sulfur trees. It is thought by several that this fungus spreads upon the fruit after itis stored and at whatever time it appears it renders apples dull, unsightly and ‘unsalable. Bordeaux mixture or its modifi- cations may be relied upon to hold the fungus in check. One spraying at the time the apples are the size ot hickory nuts may prevent nearly all of the injury. Upon varieties like Maiden’s ‘Blush, Grimes and Belmont the spraying should be done a little earlier than just stated. The demonstrations by the Station all over the state, show clearly what improvement the spraying makes in the apples where this trouble prevails. Sun-Scald, Collar-Rot. There is frequent complaint of the dying of the trunk of both young- er and older apple trees wherein there appears to be associated the exposure to sun and the death of the bark of the. trunk upon younger orchard trees. The freezing injury has been carefully worked out in recent years and is discussed under be winter injuries, with several Bice ee es varieties of apples, notably the : Grimes and King this trouble Fig. 32. Apples spotted by sooty fungus. The apples is so serious over much of Ohio shown above were sprayed with Bordeaux mixture fol- lowed by two sprays of Bordeaux and Iron Sticker. The as to reduce the growth of these apples shown below were sprayed first with Bordeaux sorts; while Murrill has sug- mixture and this was followed by two sprays.of self- gested a connection between a boiled lime-sulfur. In neither case was the scab entirely fleshy fungus and this dying of prevented. The lime-sulfur spray was not strong enough the trunks of the King thé eon to keep offlate attacks of sooty fungus. From a photo- graph by T. F. Manns. nection has not been proved. The injuries which occur on the south and southwest exposures of the trunk have probably a direct connection with the danger from freezing injuries. Some apparent sun-scald is.more probably due to the bacterium of pear blight as has been recently proved by cultures from young trees by Waite. With Grimes and other varieties susceptible to collar-rot caused by the bacterium ot pear blight the only true relief is found by top working on some vigorous sort such as Baldwin, Gano, and like varieties. ‘In the case of true 374 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 sun-scald the effect of freezing is to form an ice layer and thus separate the bark or inthe case of many water gorged cells to kill the sap layer. For further discussion in this line see winter injury. Storage Rots. These rots of the apple are extremely various since apples infected before storage are liable to develop during storage the forms of rot due to that infection. Even bitter-rot may not be overlooked in this way and much more commonly still, black-rot and the rots which develop from the gradual invasion of molds. It is found, futhermore, that bruises upon the apple or any tendency to sun scald phenomona give dead tissues in which various saprophytic organisms that normally hasten decay will do their work with rapidity. It is understood, of course, that the temperatures of storage will regulate or control more or less perfectly the rate of this development. Storage scalding of apples is much worse in some varieties, notably in York Imperial than in the normal toughened skin types. At present one can only suggest the rejection of those sorts susceptible to scald for cold storage keeping. Twig-Blight... This disease of the apple, caused by the bacterium of pear blight (Bacillus amylovorus Burr.), is often very prevalent. The microbe enters through the blossoms, being propagated in the nectar after infection by insect visitation. It destroys the blossoms as well as small twigs of the tree. Beyond the injuries just noted this microbe may gain entrance through the bark. (See sun-scald). The twig injury is not very great from this cause cn the apple, though the small dead twigs are unsightly. The prevention willlie in the destruction of ali the blighted parts on apple, crabapple, pear and quince trees in the vicinity. For fuller discussion see pear blight. In substance, this treat- ment consists in cutting out all blighted portions in fall and early winter and burning them to kill the resting forms of the microbe. It seems further that well timed, early spring spray treatments on pear, etc., will cover up or destroy spores of the blight. (See Circular 87). Water Core. With the so-called Russian apples and occasionally with other varieties as Yellow Transparent and Early Harvest, there are water core con- ditions, at times, which may result in subsequent rotting. No explanation is here offered as to cause for the condition. Winter Injury (also called Sun-Scald). As previously mentioned there are a number of evidences of injury which involve the trunks of apple trees of all sizes; they are many times due to freezing injury; while this name winter injury appears at the beginning of the paragraph and while the name sun-scald has been applied for a long time to similar conditions, the injuries are directly due to freezing, sometimes occuring in winter and sometimes, as in October 1906, due to premature low temperatures. A conspicuous case occurred in the fall and winter of 1906-7, more fully described in the bulletin devoted to these injuries (Bul- letin 192). At that time as in other cases of injury from freezing, the low tempera- tures accurred when the trees were gorged with water (sap). In the fall of 1906 we had very heavy rainfall with low temperatures so that there was stimulus to excessive water absorption and no tendency to hasten ripening of tissues through water loss and reduced water content such as occur in dry autumn periods. The losses of young trees set one to three years, were very large in the winter of 1906; indeed, in some cases there was practically a total loss as on slow grow- ing varieties, notably the Rome Beauty in the Station plantation at Carpenter. In general at that time the typical late variety of the northern part of the state, Baldwin, and of the southern portion, Rome Beauty and the Hubbardson were most seriously injured. It is evident that where we have such excessive water supply in the inner bark and in the process of freezing, a layer of ice crystals DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 375 is formed. There is great danger of separation of the bark layer from the wood at that time as at others. The sun exposed side seemed to have suffered worse by reason of the more extreme temperature changes which were incited on these exposures. Itis evident that warm periods in winter are a source of danger when followed by low tem- peratures. Upon very large trunks near the base, as on Grimes and some others, this may be the real ex- planation of frequent sun- scald or basal injuries. Wherever such an injury begins there is risk of the intrusion of wound fungi with all the consequences which follow their en- trance. The handling of winter injuries Must so far as prevention goes precede the conditions which cause it. Where possible the pre- vention of excessive late growth is desirable. In cases of orchard trees it may be that mulches of coarse litter, especially, will prove serviceable. It may be added that this injury to woody growths is a less developed phase of the killing back of herbac- eous plants by the prema- ture frosts. Another phase still is e ay gk Fig, 33. Johnathan tree, 4 years old, Southeastern test farm, the killing back of branch- Carpenter, in cultivated portion. Tree of vigorous previous es at the tips of woody growth with small lesion near base of trunk caused by freezing growth which are not and sprouts from below. Photographed July 20, 1908. From strictly hardy in our cli- Bulletin 192. mate. In the case of our : Japanese plum and of some ornamental shrubs, this is a frequent phenomenon and its cause is to be sought in the same factors above described. Growth being protracted late inthe season, these water gorged terminal twigs are killed by the subsequent winter freezing whenever this is severe. APRICOT The apricot is rarely planted though occasionally is set in our Lake Districts. The chief difficulties there have been the tendency to kill back.in winter. Apricot foliage in addition is liable to be attacked by the similar leaf parasites of peach and plum. ‘376 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 ASH Trunk Rots. The ash as a forest and shade tree is a vigorous grower, but it is often marked by the attacks of timber decdys wheré these enter through wceunds or by means of the bases of dead branches. We have urgent need for more knowledge of these wound parasites. Leaf-Spots and Rust. I may also state that the foliage of the ash is attacked by rust (Puccinia fraxinata (Lk.) Arth.) but in the present state of our know- ledge we are unable to apply effective remedies. This rust, as in the case of other rusts, shows by the presence of its reddish or brown colored spore masses. Of leaf-spot fungi there are a number which call for careful study. ASPARAGUS Anthracnose. An anthracnose fungus of asparagus (Colletotrichum sp.) is . known in New Jersey but has not been frequent, if present, in Ohio. Rust. In the east and in Europe the rust of asparagus (Puccinia Asparagi DC.) proves to be destructive, and it has finally spread over Ohio. ; The rust causes appearance of unusually early maturing of the plants. Closely examined the rusted plants show blister-like spots on skin of the stem, and underneath these ruptures there is brown color due tothe spores. The rust also assumes another form, the cluster-cup stage, which may be found in éarly spring with different color on volunteer plants; indeed the aecidial, or cluster-cup, uredo and _ teleuto- spore stages succeed each other on the stem. The usual recommendations are to burn the rusted bushes in autumn and to spray with Bordeaux mixture; this latter ‘‘reduces the amount of rust about one quarter.’’ (N. J., B. 129). The Leopard spot of asparagus stems is apparently not infrequent, and the anthracnose of asparagus, which produces very small specks upon the stem, may also be expected, yet neither of these compares with the rust in Hes Ge. Raian Sein as destructiveness, nor does the rust of any other rust. The rust causeselongated devel. Plant appear to surpass this in its ravages. opment of the fungus, both upon the The Palmetto variety is reported less suscepti, stems and leaves of the plant. ble to rust than any other sort. AZALEA Leaf-Spots. This plant is grown as an ornamental plant and whether in hothouses or in protected planting out doors, is liable to injuries from leaf diseases. One of these is a leaf-spot fungus (Septoria azaleae). It is also liable to attack by a ‘‘bladders’’ fungus upon the young parts. 7 BARBERRY Rust. Therust upon the barberry bush (4ecidium Berberidis Gmel.) is but a form or stage, the aecidial or cluster cups, ofthe wheat rust (Puccinia gram- ints P. rubigo-vera etc.). The increase of virulence in the rust of wheat and rye, when grown near barberry bushes, was long noted before the demonstrated DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS ~* ‘377 alternation of the fungus from the barberry to the wheat was proved -in our century by DeBary. The barberry. hedge is objected to, at times, by adjacent wheat growers, although we continue to suffer from the ravages of wheat rust many miles from any barberry bushes. In the absence of barberry the rust survives without it. BARLEY Rust. In the west and northwest there are two forms of rust; leaf rust (Puccinia simplex (Koern.) Erikss. and Henn.) and stem rust (Puccinia gram- inis Pers.). These rusts, like those of the other cereals, have not yet been mastered or controlled. Scab. Barley is attacked by scab (Fusarium roseum Lk.) in a manner similar to that which occurs on wheat and rye. That the scab fungus is the same for all grains has been shown by recent work of this department. (See Bulletin 203). Seed treatment for the loose spores and seed recleaning to get out the shrunken and scab infested kernels ought to give favorable results. (See wheat scab). Smuts. The covered barley smut (Ustilago hordei (Pers) Kell. & Sw.) as well as the naked barley smut (Ustilago nuda (Jens.) Kell. & Sw.) both occur in Ohio, although barley is grown less extensively with us than in the west and northwest. In the covered barley smut, the smutted heads more commonly remain enclosed by the upper leaf sheath and a membrane holds the smut masses, while the spores are exposed and freely scattered in the naked barley smut. The modified hot water treatment for loose smut of wheat has been found effective upon the barley smuts. .See Farmers’ Bulletin No. 75, Yearbook U.S. D. A., 1894: Spray Calendar, Bulletin 199. 5 BEAN Anthracnose. The anthracnose of the bean causes unsightly spotting of both pods and growing organs and is referred to the anthracnose fungus (Colletotri- chum Lagenarium (Pass.) Hals.). This species is also regarded as the same one -that attacks curcurbits, including cucumbers, watermelons, muskmelons and gourds. The spotting of the bean pods is looked upon, too commonly, as a natural phenomenon. Measures looking to its prevention have not found ready application by growers. That fungicides are effective in reducing it we have reliable testimony (N. J. Exp. Sta. B. 108). The recommended treatment begins by soaking the seed 1 to 2 hours in ammoniacal copper carbonate, 1 ounce of copper carbonate to 1% gallons of water. Bordeaux mixture is to be sprayed upon 2 and 3 inch plants, followed by the same 10 days later, and again repeated after blossoming of plant. The great thing to remember is that this is a seed infecting disease. We must grow disease-free seed. (See Pea). Bacterial Spot. A bacterial blight has been reported from New York (N. Y. Exp. Sta. B. 181) and New Jersey (Exp. Sta. Rept. 1892) which promises more or less injury. In this malady the diseased parts, leaves, pods, etc., show char- acteristic, often watery spots. It is less prevalent on fresh land. The organ- ism (Bacterium phaseoli Erw. Sw.) is widespread. Downy Mildew. This fungus (Phytophthora Phaseolt Thaxter), so far as known at present, has not been found in Ohio, though occurring to a destruc- tive extent in the east, and liable to occur in our vegetable gardens. Experi- ments have shown that it is controlled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture, 378 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 (Conn. Exp. Sta. R. 1897, Pt. III). In this instance, as with the downy mildew of cucumber, it is probable that August 1 is sufficiently early to begin the application of the fungicides. Powdery Mildew. Powdery mildew of the bean is due to the same fungus as the powdery mildew of pea, for which see pea. Rust. This fungus (Uromyces appendiculatus (P.) Lev.) is often observed to produce reddish brown spore masses upon both surfaces of the leaves of beans. It is perhaps rather more variable in occurrence, and certainly less injurious in the past than bean anthracnose. It has been quite common in Ohio. Beyond burning diseased refuse we are not prepared to suggest remedial or preventive measures. Stem-Rot. The root-rot fungus (Rhizoctonia) attacks the bean root and stem and at times spots the pods in the south. BEECH Anthracnose. The anthracnose fungus (Gloesporium Fagi (Rob.) of beech attacks the leaves, but is not so serious as many of the other anthracnoses. Leaf Diseases. While the beech is not largely planted, it is nevertheless a useful shade tree. The leaves are often attacked by two or three mildews (M/ic- rosphaera erinophila Pk. & M. penicillata (Wallr.), also Phyllactinia suffulta), which, however, rarely gives serious injury to foliage. In Europe the beech is attacked by a rust fungus (/elampsora Fagi); the leaves are also attacked by a leaf-spot species of Phyllosticta. BIRCH Anthracnose. The anthracnose fungus of birch (Gloeosporium Betularium, E&M) attacks the leaves of our American birches while other anthracnoses are known on the European species. Our knowledge of the injury is very limited. Mildews. The downy mildews of beech and alder in part occur upon the birches. Wound Fungi. Characteristic flesh fungi invade pruning or other wounds in the birch and are to be guarded against as with other woody growths. BEET Leaf-Spot. The garden beet is quite liable to the attacks of the leaf-spot fungus (Cercospora beticola Sacc.) which causes serious impairment of leaf action and premature dropping of the foliage. Other changes are likely to follow those stated. This trouble may be controlled by the use of Bordeaux mixture at fortnightly intervals. (B. 199). The leaves of beets are also attacked by a white mold (Cystopus Bliti (Biv.) Lev.) although this latter fungus is less frequent and less ruinous than leaf-spot. The same fungicide may be used if required. See ‘‘sugar beet’’ for other diseases. Scab. Thescab troubles on the beet are similar to those on the potato and are referred to the same fungus. This trouble is likely to follow where beets follow in soil that has been diseased with either beets or potatoes. Root-Rot. (See sugar beet). ' BEGONIA. (See Pelargonium). Nematodes. These minute worm parasites attack the roots and also the leaves of cultivated begonias (Ohio Exp. Sta. B. 73; N. J. Exp. Sta. Rept. 1894). For the commoner root injury avoidance isto be sought in the preparation of the earth. Root-Rot. The root-rot fungus of violets and tobacco Thielavia basicola Zopf.) was found attacking the roots of begonia which suffered from nematodes. Its general occurrence since the discovery upon tobacco and catalpa show that it is capable of serious injury to the roots of these cultivated ntnnt~ DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 379 BLACKBERRY Anthracnose. The anthracnoses of blackberry and raspberry (Colletotrichum venetum Speg.) are idential and are described under the raspberry. Leaf-Spot. This disease is also common to the blackberry and the rasp- berry, although the latter is less commonly attacked. This fungus (Septoria Rubi West) is conspicuous upon the wild growth and upon the trailing dew- berries; it produces, usually, small, light-gray spots in the leaves and yields to treatment with the standard fungicides. (See Ohio Exp. Sta. B. IV, 6, and B. 79). Crown Gall. Is apparently of a similar contagious nature to that of the raspberry.It is of like appearance, though the galls at the crown of the plant are often larger. A plant once attacked is incurable, and offshoots from it appear to be generally affected, thus calling for immediate digging and burning of all the diseased canes and the abandonment of propagation from such plantations. (See raspberry crown gall). Red Rust or Bramble Rust ( Cacoma nitens Schw.) is a well known disease of the wild and cultivated blackberries, which also attack raspberries. It causes the affected leaves to turn first yellowish in color, remain erect in position, and finally to become bright red with-an abundant coating of the spores of the rust fungus. These spores are readily scattered and may thus affect previously healthy plants. The threads of the rust fungus (mycelium) live year after year in the affected plants. For this reason the only remedy is to dig and burn all members of the rusted stools. (See Bulletin 79). : Root Diseases. Recent examinations of blackberry plantations show root diseases of undetermined cause. The affected roots show brown spots as if parasitized and the growth is seriously curtailed. Recent conditions in black- berry plantations indicate root parasites since sections of the roots become discolored and the growth of the canes is checked. These have not been suffic- iently investigated for exact determination at this time. BLUE-GRASS Anthracnose. In the summer of 1908 the anthracnose fungus of wheat, rye, oats and other grasses ( Colletotrichum cereale Manns) was discovered on blue- grass in Ohio. This shows as black spots on the stems and basal sheaths, and will evidently survive on this pasture grass. The injury is greater upon wheat, rye, oats and clover, under which illustrations are given, than upon blue-grass. Bacterial Blight of Head. In a recent bulletin from this department (No. 210), Manns has described the organisms of blade blight in oats and has reported a head blight in blue-grass and timothy caused by them. In this case the bacteria appears to enter the upper sheath and cause a lesion above the upper joint. This ends in the death and the drying up of the heads. Powdery Mildew. The foliage of the blue-grass is attacked by the conidial stage of the wheat mildew (Zrysiphe graminis DC). This fungus gives little evidence of injury, though its presence is certainly of beneficial and the perithecia of the parasite are not common on this host. Rust. Blue-grass is likewise attacked by a rust (Puccinia graminis) which is general on grasses. Smuts. A smut fungus (Ustilago striaeformis West.) attacks the blades of blue-grass though it is possibly not often very injurious. BROOM-CORN Smuts. Of these there are two, head smut (Ustilago Retliana Kuhn.) and grain smut (Cintractia Sorghi-vulgaris (Tul.) Clinton), the latter of which is pre- vented by treating seed for 15 minutes in hot water at 135 degrees F. and drying 380 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 for planting as for oats. The same smuts attack sorghum and are very likely to occur in foreign seed. (See Kansas Experiment Station Bulletin 23; Ills., Bulletin 47). BUCKWHEAT Leaf-Blight. This well known plant is frequently attacked by a leaf-blight fungus (Ramularia rufo-maculans Pk.) which produces whitened areas on the under leaf surfaces and causes dying of these leaves. It is not known to be sufficiently destructive to warrant treatment for prevention. Another leaf trouble referred to a fungus (Fusicladium fagopyri) is reported from Europe, but is not known in our climate. CABBAGE-CAULIFLOWER Brown- or Black-Rot is a serious disease of these two crucifers, and attacks others of the family, including turnips. It is a veritable scourge to the cabbage growers of Ohio and other states. Smith (Farmers’ Bul. 68, U. S. D. A.) has published concerning it and has a‘tributed the disease to aspecific germ (Bac- terium campestre (Pam.) Erw. Sm.). The diseased heads may be dwarfed, in portions rotted, and brown colors will appear in the woody layers of the plant, including the stem. Badly diseased heads emit a penetrating and offensive odor. Fig. 35. Young cabbages partially affected with club-root The club-root survives in the soil and causes swellings and abnormal forms of the roots, After Halsted, Bul, 98, N. J. Exp. Sta, DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 381 The losses from the brown-rot have been very large and specific remedies cannot be stated. The author quoted sums up the subject of treatment in one word—prevention. The measures recommended are—plant on new land and only from healthy seed beds; avoid succession of the same crops; avoid stable manure and give preference to artifical fertilizers to escape possible infection through the manure. Prevent animals from cropping in diseased fields. Clean tools by scouring bright after use in infected soil. Fight the cabbage insects, since these inoculate healthy plants with the disease. Removal of badly affected plants, or newly infected leaves, at intervals, and subsequent burning or deep pitting of this refuse may aid in checking brown-rot. Destroy all mustard weeds. See page 318 for part played by water pores in the infection. Club-Root. Club-root fungus (Plas- modiophora Brassicae Wor.) attacks these plants as well as the turnip, ruta- baga, wild shepherd’s purse, hedge- mustard and certain other plants of the mustard family. It is called finger and toe disease in England. It causes enlargement of the roots and prevents growth of normal head or root. (See figure, p. 380). This fungus is harbored in the soil, so that if the land is once infected the disease may prove lasting. It has not yet been learned how long the trouble will survive if the soil is planted in Rig@h Geb baesaisubenacten ey ented other crops. Lands newly brought wilt. This has caused the leaves to yellow and under cultivation may be infected with drop and the plant has produced no marketable club-root through the wild mustard heads. The lesion caused by wilt fungus may be plants upon them, Tt would appear serves soon Se lang se oper tal possible by watchfulness to avoid getting the club-root fungus into cab- bage lands; the seed bed should be most carefully guarded from this trouble as from rot. It will be much cheaper to abandon the crop for some other, when the plant bed has become affected with club-root and the seedlings have enlarged or whitened roots from this disease. “In New Jersey, Halsted has investigated this trouble and has found (N. J. Exp. Sta. B. 98 and 108) that fresh stone lime, if applied at the rate of 75 to 80 bushels per acre upon freshly plowed land in spring, and worked into soil, will very greatly reduce the amount of club-root on turnips and cabbage; there is no reason to doubt that this treatment is applicable to all plants of the order attacked by club-root. 382 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Downy Mildew (Peronospora parasitica DeBy.), Leaf-Blight (Macrosporium Brassicae Berk.) and White Rust (Cystopus candidus (P.) Lev.), occur upon the mustard plants, including, perhaps, all named above and some others. As yet their presence has not proved a serious drawback. If to be treated, Bordeaux mixture should be applied. Wilt. The fusarium wilt disease earlier reported from the eastern truck districts, is now very destructive in Ohio. In 1909 it locally destroyed nearly all the crop where either infected plants were set upon fresh soil or plants were set on infected soil. It causes a yellowing and wilting of the plants sometimes with apparent stem injury. In our cabbage districts it may be this wilt is to contest with black-rot for first placein rank of injury done. The remedy lies in breeding wilt resistant strains of cabbage. CALLA A Root-Rot of callas has been studied by Halsted and Townsend. The disease appears to be due to bacteria (N. J. Rept. 1893). Reject rotted roots. CARNATION Bacteriosis of carnations has been reported upon by Arthur and Bolley (Ind. Exp. Sta. B. 59). This causes many small, brownish spots with yellowing of the leaves of the affected plants. Such are feeble in growth and deficient in return. The maintenance of best and most favorable growth conditions may often be effective in preventing this trouble; particularly sub-irrigation and war on aphides are to be recommended. Bud-Rot. A serious rot of carnation (Sporotrichum antrophilum Pk.) is reported from several states and is doubtless present in Ohio. Leaf and Calyx Mold (Hederosporium echinulatum (B.) Cke.) (Fairy Ring) of carnations is often very unsightly upon the calyces and pedicels of these flowers; it also attacks the leaves. All sorts appear to be more or less parasitized with the fungus in the houses where it prevails. Yet another spotting is produced by the carnation leaf-spot fungus (Sepfori Dianthi Desm.), which has appeared at this Station more frequently upon the Daybreak variety. It is believed that both these fungi will yield to treatment with Bordeaux mixture as per calendar. (See Bulletin 73). Carnation Rust (Uromyces caryophyllinns (Schrk.) Schroet.). This rust fungus is one of the serious diseases of the carnation. There is some differerence in the liabitity of varieties to the disease, and perhaps a much larger difference in the condition of the stock plants from which cuttings are made. Assuredly this matter of ‘‘cutting stock’’ is of very great im portance and one admitting of selection of the very best plants. Experiments conducted at this Station in 1896 by the writer and the Station Florist (See B. 73) yielded no gain from spraying with Fowler’s solution, which has been sometimes recommended. Watchfulness in the destruction of rusted parts, and in the stock for propagation, are suggested for the control of rust. A Root- or Stem-Rot (Rhizoctonia and Fusarium) of éarnations has been noted by Stewart (Bot. Gaz. XXVII, 129, 130) and occasional rotting of the flowers through the presence of a Botrytis. For the former no thoroughly effective remedy is now at hand, while general cleanliness of the house is necessary to avoid the rot fungus Botrytis. (See Lettuce Rot). ; CANNA Rust. Foliage of canna is sometimes attacked by arust which may be identified by the characters of its fungus (Uredo cannae). CANTALOUPE See Muskmelon. DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 383 CARROT Leaf-Spot. This spotting of carrot leaves is usually caused by the same fungus (Cercospora Apii Fres.) as the celery leaf-spot. Upon the carrot the trouble is not usually serious. CEDAR Cedar Apples or Cedar Rust. During the showers of April, May or Juue, large or small, jelly-like masses, often one amok or more across, with firmer wood-like centers, are frequent upon red cedar trees and upon similar related plants. Microscopic exam- inations of these jelly masses show that they contain the spores of arust fungus (Gymnosporangium macro- pus Lk. and other species of Gym- nosporangium). This fact need not startle us but for another, namely, that this is the completed or teleu- tospore stage of a rust which may seriously injure the leaves of the apple. The apple grower will run some risk then, in having about him diseased cedar trees. The remedy lies in the destruction of the cedar trees. CATALPA Leaf Blight. Leaf blight of catalpa has recently been trouble- some to growers and puzzling to the Pathologist at times. The sudden blackening and dying of the leaves in early summer has beén traced to frost, but other times in later sum- mer to root-rot, which see. Fre- quently we have found a leaf blight fungus (A/lternaria sp.) which devel- . % oped freely upon the spotting leaves - — Scie and appeared to be responsible in Fig. 37. Cedar apples caused by rust fungus. conjuction with some other rather In May these dry looking apples send out jelly-like unfavorable conditions for theyoung __ branches filled with spores of the rustfungus. These trees. This will probably give more spores may attack leaves and fruit of apple, as well as pi crataegus and juneberry, (From a photograph by trouble in the culture of the catalpa wp. Beeching). ; than the leaf-spot or mildew which have been known much longer and prove less serious. Early applications of Bordeaux mixture repeated at moderate intervals should check the disease. * Leaf-Spot. The leaf-spot (Phyllosticta Catalpae E. & M.) is quite frequent upon the leaves of catalpa. It rarely causes more than occasional spots in the leaves, the injury being in no way comparable to that caused by the catalpa midge. Fungicides should be effective against the true leaf-spot. Mildew. The leaves of catalpa are often covered over by the powdery mildew fungi (Microsphaera elevaia Burr., Phyllactinia suffulta Reb.). These mildews tend to become conspicuous by the white covering upon the leaves in later summer. While unsightly the injuries are rarely serious. 384 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Root-Rot. Since the recent demand for seedling trees of Catalpa speciosa, some difficulties have been met with in diseased seedlings of catalpa. These seedlings are liable to be attacked in their early stages by the ordinary damp- ing off fungi such as Rhizoctonia, Pythium and Botrytis. One interesting case of a true root-rot fungus was studied in 1908. The seedlings were being grown in land that has been used some years for truck gardening; the stand was cut down very much and in later summer some of the seedlings, then afoot or more in height, showed sudden dying and dropping of the leaves; this was found to be. due to the root-rot fungus of the violet and tobacco (7hielavia basicola Zopft.). This must have been quite serigus on the smaller seedlings. At the date of study, September, only the smaller root branches were destroyed by it and the larger ones seemed normal. The injury to these seedlings in dry weather was enough to bring about leaf collapse due to reduced water supply. If this fungus becomes very general it will involve soil treatment for such seed beds. It was too soon to determine how serious it may be upon trees of larger nursery size, although it is not greatly feared. : CELERY Black-Root, so-called, may be found on celery plants from seed beds. In one instance such plants yielded growths which shortly run to seed and were valueless. a Fig. 38. Celery leaf attacked by leaf-spot. Various troubles produce similar spotting in celery leaves. Leaf-Spot or Leaf Blight (Cercospora Apii Fres.) is a prevalent condition upon celery plants. This is at times attributed to the fungus above named, or others, and is also produced by other causes, as by excess of water devine overflow and the like. During certain seasons the loss from thé leaf-spot or leaf-blight troubles is very much greater than during others. i This. is clearl explained when the conditions giving rise to the — : DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 385 But this is by no means a common fact, and in some years there is much blight- ing after the celery has been boarded up for blanching. Usually the fungus is discoverable in diseased areas of the leaves. The use of fungicides, such as Bordeaux mixture, is likely to prove beneficial, especially to protect the plants in the seed bed until transplanted. (See Spray Calendar). While beneficial for later applications in the field, so long as it is not clear that the fungus parasite is not the only cause of blighting or leaf spotting, all possible conditions should receive attention. Kinney (Rhode Island Exp. Sta. B. 44) has suggested that the breaking down of the celery leaves arises from the methods of culture prac- ticed, particularly the level culture, in which the water relations of the plant are not in a natural state. He succeeded in preventing the blighting of celery by mulching with celery tops in which there was a large supply of the fungus. Mulching, especially during periods of prolonged drought, may thus prove profitable. The identification of the particular fungus occurring in the spots must, in each case, be made by the misroscope. Aside from the mulching sug- gested the remedies are stated in Bulletin 121. The conditions of celery culture are yearly becoming more troublesome and are really serious. Soph cA SL aR ectea. Fig. 39. Younger celery plants attacked by root-rot. These plants are kept alive by new roots, though they increase but little in size. After VanHook, Cir. No. 72. Heart-Rot is a very destructive decay of the inner, or heart, portions of the celery plant after blanching has begun. The inner parts rot very suddenly, emit a penetrating odor and the market value of the affected celery is destroyed. 386 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 The decayed parts are teeming with motile bacteria to which this form of decay has been attributed. The heart-rot prevails too in very hot, steamy weather, but preventive measures are about all that can be recommended. It is suggested that when the boards are first put up to the celery, under such conditions as accompany the heart-rot, they should be left apart at the top and only closed up to the usual point after an interval of several days. This secures better ventila- tion and often prevents the disease. Root-Rot. During a succession of wet seasons much trouble developed in the Akron district from attacks of root-rot (Rhizoctonia). This gave trouble at times with the seedling plants, but more seriously with the shortened develop- ment of the crop. Often the roots were nearly all rotted off. Thetrouble seemed to decline rapidly with drier seasons. (See Circular No. 72, Ohio Exp. Sta.). Rust, true and false. In Europe the celery plant is attacked by one or two rust fungi (Puccinia bullata (Pers.) and P. Castagnéi Thim.) of the same class of parasitic fungi as those producing rust in wheat. These two rusts have not as yet been discovered in America, though they will doubtless in time become introduced. Celery which is banked in the earth often has the blanched stems marked by rusty spots of various sizes. These spots appear to arise from the contact of the stems with the earth, and on microscopic examination seem to be due to the fungi or bacteria, or both, that may be present in the soil. The difficulty is prevented by avoiding this method of blanching and substituting boards or close culture planting. ‘ Bad Seed. There is scarcely’a more vital question in celery growing than that of the quality of seed used. Seed that is of a bad strain though true to varietal name, may inflict losses of hundreds or thousands of dollars on large growers. Hollow celery, or that otherwise useless, according to present know- ledge is very often due to the bad seed. CHERRY Black-Knot. This is a conspicusus disease attacking the branches of cherry and plum trees but is more frequent upon the cherry varieties of the Morello type. It is due to a parasitic fungus (Plowrightia morbosa Schw.). Insects, however, make harbors of the interior of the knots. The spores of the black-knot fungus are ripened during the winter and scattered in early spring, finding lodgement on the new branches or in fractures on old ones, where their growth causes the formation of anew knot. Black-knot may be prevented by spraying with Bordeaux mixture, but is more profitably controlled by carefully cutting off affected parts and burning them, making a clean sweep at least once each year and that previous to March rst. This is a practicable measure and we have confidence in its efficiency. Leaf-Spot and Mildew. The first named disease is Fig. 40. Twig of caused by the same fungus (Cylindrosporium Padi Karst.) cherry attacked by as that which we call ‘‘shot-hole fungus’’ on the plum, and black knot. This is the summer condition May be successfully prevented by the use of Bordeaux mix- wen one eer ae ture, except that only half the strength of mixture may be surface and often give applied with safety to the foliage of the cherry. (See Cal- inate ee a endar). The mildew is usually found chiefly upon sprouts DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 387 and young shoots. The mildew fungus (Sphaerotheceia Oxyacanthae (DC.) De By.) is a very interesting one. This applies especially to amateur microscopic study. If spraying is required for the mildew two applications will probably be very satisfactory. Cherry-Rot or Brown-Rot (Schlerotinia (Monilia) Sructigena (Pers.) Schw.) affects all stone fruits, including peach, plum, apricot, etc. It is by far the most serious and baffling of cherry diseases to the commercialcherry grower. Thedecay of the fruit is caused by the fungus named. The conditions of the season may favor or retard the spread and development of the fungus. The threads of the fungus (mycel- Fig. 42, Cherries, sound and rotted. ium) survive inthe ‘The parasite in this case is the same as on rotted fruits, other stone fruits. Fig. 41. Leaf of cherry which may hang attacked by leaf-spot fungus. Gy the trees unless removed. Careful removal of all The dead areas in cherry - E leaves turn dry and rarely give rotted fruit and spraying for the fungus, as per the shot-hole effects. The same calendar, may be relied upon to save a part of the fungus occurs upon the plum. fruit, but judgement and attention to the details of From: Bulletini79. the work are always required. Itis to be under- stood, also, that checking the curculio is a sure means of helping to check rot. CHESS Anthracnose. The anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum cereale Manns. attacks the chess as well as the cereals in which it may grow. The disease is of interest upon chess because it may be a source of extending the development of anthracnose. (See anthranose of oats, rye and wheat). CHESTNUT Anthracnose is a disfiguring spotting of chestnut leaves, about which inquiries are often made. Small, dead areas with characteristic borders are produced by this fungus (Marsonia ochroleuca B. & C.). Such applications of fungicides as are made for shot-hole fungus of the plum and leaf-spot of the horse chestnut, will be found useful when treatment becomes necessary on the chestnut. Bark Disease. A serious bark disease of chestnut in the east has recently been described and has proved injurious. The fungus (Diaporthe parasitica Murr.) appears to enter as a wound parasite through openings in the bark. It has exterminated a part of the chestnut trees in the eastern half of Long Island and about New York City. (See Yearbook, U. S. D. A., 1907, pages 489-490, also Bulletin, Bureau of Plant Industry, No. 121, 1908). The beginnings of the 388 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 disease show on branches with smooth bark, by the presence of dead, discolored or sunken patches sometimes covered with the yellow orange or brown pustules of the fungus. CHRYSANTHEMUM Leaf-Spot is frequently a disfiguring disease of this plant in earlier growth. It is caused by the leaf-spot fungus (Septoria Chrysanthemi Cav.). Two other fungi, a Phyllostica and a Cylindrosporium, also attack the chrysanthemum. For indoor treatment copper sulfate solution of one fourth of the strength given in the spray calendar—that is one pound to 50 gallons of water—will prove avail- able. More applications will be required, but the foliage will not be rendered so unsightly as with Bordeaux mixture which, however, may be applied in full strength. Powdery Mildew. Powdery mildew also occurs upon chrysanthemum foliage. The fungus (Zrysiphe Cichoracearum DC.) is usually not persistent, but calls for spraying foliage with fungicides when serious. Ray Blight. A blight of the rays of chrysanthemum flowers due to a specific fungus (Ascochyta chrysanthemi Cav.) is reported from the south and is very : liable to be present in Ohio. Rust. This is found on the chrysanthe- mum, resembling other rusts in its’ development. Rusted leaves and _ badly rusted plants should be destroyed. CLOVER Anthracnose. Three anthracnoses occur upon clover; the more common of which is due to the same fungus (Colleto- crichum trifolii B. & E.) as the anthrac- nose of alfalfa, In 1907 it -attacked the clover over the south- ern one-third to one- half of Ohio, causing dying of the plants attacked. These show lesions of the stems and leaf stalks and may be detected in the new seedings in late summer through Fig. 43. This shows clover plants from fields at the Station attacked by new anthracnose fungus in 1909. This causes the leaves to droop and a die; also at times the tips of the stems. From a photograph by T. F. the d ying of the Manns. leaves of these plants. It is not known how serious this may prove upon clover, nor is this one known in northern Ohio. The second anthracnose fungus (Glocosporium trifolit Peck.) has been known longer than the first and occasionally shows by killing the tops of large DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 389 clover stems in meadows. It is apparently not a serious disease, althougha very interesting one to study in connection with the anthracnoses due to Colletotrichum. The third anthracnose upon clover (Colletotrichum cereale Manns.) is the anthracnose of wheat, rye and oats. It was found to a limited extent attacking clover upon the Station grounds in 1909. Except in microscopic characters this anthracnose cannot be distinguished from that of Bain and Essary first men- tioned above. In the microscopic characters the two are clearly distinguishable. It is quite probable that this fungus will be found over much of the state. Black-Spot is due toa fungus (Phyllachora trilfolii (Pers.) Fckl.) which attacks the leaves of clover causing dead spots and dark discolorations on the under side of the leaves. As a rule these attacks come so late in the working life of the leaves that the injury is slight. Dodders occur upon clover as well as upon the alfalfa; with it, likewise, there are two species (Cuscuta Epithymum Murr. and Cuscuta arvensis Beyr.), the seeds of which are distributed in the clover seed. In 1907-8 when the domestic - supply of seed ran so low the lack was made good by importations from Europe. This has brought a large amount of dodder into the state, the most of it being the clover dodder proper. With clover seedings as with alfalfa where infesta- tions are slight it will pay to dig up by root the infested plants and burn them for destruction of possible seeds. Dodder is a parasitic twining plant and may be easily recognized by its appearance. The seeds are illustrated in Bulletin 175. In the handling of the new clover seedings infested with dodder, ‘it is prob- ably best to clip in fall to prevent ripening of the dodder seeds. The hay crop may be cut the following season without fear since the seeds will not be in con- dition to grow. Following the mowing of the hay crop it is probably desirable to break the clover sod after the growth is fairly well started, and before time enough has elapsed to permit ripening of the dodder seeds. In no case is it desirable to cut seed from such dodder infested fields. Dodder in clover hay is held responsible for scouring of cows and horses. Leaf-Spot. A leaf-spot of white clover referable to an anthracnose fungus (Ascochyta sp.) has been described from our region although not definitely deter- mined in Ohio. The injury which may result cannot be now stated. ‘Rust. The various sorts of the cultivated clover, Red, Alsike, Mammoth, etc., are attacked by a clover rust (Uromyces Trifolii (A. & S.) Wirt). If one will examine the small, dark spots in the clover leaves he will find a cluster of this reddish fungus beneath. This rust does not spread to other plants than clovers and is commonly regarded as more disfiguring than destructive. It is not nearly so injurious as the leaf-spot of alfalfa. which is similar in appearance. Root Nodules and Root Tubercles upon Leguminosae. Upon removal of the roots of the clover plant from the soil one finds minute enlargements which are the subject of frequent inquiry. These are nodules or tubercles as they were “formerly called, caused by the messmate-living of certain nitrifying organisms, _ or microbes, with the clover plant. To these microbes in this communal life is due the power of withdrawing nitrogen from the atmosphere and fixing it in the the tissues of the clover plants. The same applies in general to the nodules upon plants of this order, the Papilionaceae. It thus follows that these nodules are the normal condition of properly nourished leguminous plants of the order: FPapilionaceae, and it likewise follows that the full value of this work of nitrogen fixing is only realized for manurial purposes when the tissues of the clover plants decay in the soil. 390 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Stem Blight of clover has recently been studied at the Station and has been found to be due to the same fungus as that of wheat scab (Fusarium roseum Lk.). This fungus has been found to cause the death of seedling wheat plants and to follow harvest by attacks on clover stems. (See Bulletin 203). It appears at this time to be one of the serious forms of clover sickness. The writer looks upon it as liable to be much more serious even than anthracnose. The only present suggesion for control will apply to control of the wheat scab fungus through recleaning of seed and separation of of all scab infected kernels. It is quite likely that clover seedings made in a dry year with little grain scab will not be exposed to the same danger from this blight as those made in wet seasons when the disease is very bad inthe grain. (See wheat scab). CORN Bacterial Disease. This has been described and illustrated in Bul- letin 6 of the Illinois Experiment Station, 1889. The malady infests f both younger and older plants. In i ( as j the younger it causes a yellowish — LA coloring and a general appearance ; Fig, 44. Red clover stems suffering from stem of debility, with death of the leaves, sickness. The grayish spores in the lesions are those : of the fungus of wheat scab. From Bulletin 203, commonly from the point backward. After midsummer, spots appear op the exterior of the sheaths which are more conspicuous on the inner side and at times more or less smeared with a gelatinous substance. No successful remedy has as yet been proposed. Dry-Rot or Mold. The dry-rot or mold of corn (Diplodia zeae (Schw.) Lev.) was investigated by this Station in 1906, it being reported by a grower in Licking Co. He stated that he had been studying the development for two years; the first time noted, the mold area was small involving but part of one shock; the next year a larger area had been invaded and the year of 1906 he reported his losses were still greater. He reported that conditions clearly indicate the invasion of the soil by the parasite and possible infection through the growing plant. Asin this case from Licking county and many others in which continuous corn grow- ing is practiced on rather moist soil, there is great danger from accumulation or infection. The ears attacked were marked by adherence of the husk and the uni- form moldy covering matted the kernels together upon the ear and destroyed the feeding value. In the matter of prevention little can be done beyond avoiding continuous cropping of corn for invaded areas. For life history of the fungus see Circular 117, Illinois Experiment Station; 22nd Annual Report, Nebraska Experiment Station, 1908. The Leaf Blight Fungus (Helminthosporium graminum Rab.) has been noted on corn and has recently been sent to this Station from Vinton county, in the latter case upon sweet corn. The fungus causes somewhat extended, or elliptical DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 391 brown (dead) areas in the leaf blades, readily identified by the microscope. All _ diseases of the young corn attract notice, but it is not certain that there is need to apply fungicides for this fungus, though such might prove successful. The smut boils shown here later burst open and scatter masses of smut spores. Fig. 45. Stem of maize attacked by smut. or decays where the air circulates in contact with silage. We have investigated the mofd fungus (Penicillium sp.). This is possibly the same blue mold which we have found to attack fruits in storage and transit. It is not an active organism and must be held in check by control of conditions in the silo. Corn Smut is a well known disease, attacking leaves, shoots, ears, tassels and brace-roots of corn, converting the diseased parts into masses of dirty (smutty) spores of the fungus (Ustilago Zeae (Beckm.) Unger ). A brief article upon corn smut will be found in Bulletin 78. (See also Bulletin 92 of the Kansas Experiment Station). The corn smut may be propagated by smutty seed, although Corn Rust (Puccinia Maydis Berang.) is met with in greater or less abundance upon corn every season, the greater abund- ance usually being in rainy seasons. The rust causes small oblong or elliptical spots on the surfaces of leaf and sheath and in the spots are contained red- dish-brown spores of the rust. The shade of the spores will vary with the time and development of the fungus. Here, as with wheat, the fungus passes through the uredo and teleuto stages. Silage Mold. At times we have complaint of mold in silos where corn silage is stored. Doubtless there is some loss in nearly all cases from different molds Fig. 46, destroyed by smut, may be found showing different forms of attack, An ear of corn partly Other ears much more likely to be carried by the transportation of the yeast spores of this smut fungus which may light upon any young growing part and produce smut infection. From this fact and from another—probably a greater 392 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 prevalence of the smut yeast spores in later summer—later. growing parts, for example, tassels, brace-roots, ears and sucker shoots, are perhaps more often attacked by the smut. The smui spores may be scattered in manure if smutted fodder is used, and it seems well proved that manured land yields more smutted corn than unmanured. The same may be true of clover sod as compared with corn stubble. The reason would exist in the decayed vegetable matter, wherein the secondary yeast spores of the smut may grow and then may be carried to the corn which becomes thus affected. Treatment of seed corn does not apparently reduce the amount of smut. Cutting and burning the smut boils before they have burst open would be useful. It is worth while to fight smut by all available means. COWPEA Leaf-Spot. In southern Ohio where these are grown there is danger of the leaf-spot (Cercospora). This is not liable to be very serious. Wilt. The wilt fungus (Vecosmospora vasinfecta tracheiphila Erw. Sm.) is more serious, although at present largely confined to the southern districts. For Ohio conditions the practice of growing cowpeas is not of such extent as to threaten seriously with this disease. CRABAPPLE Scab. The same scab which attacts the common cultivated sorts also attacks the crabapple, including both fruit and foliage. The remedy is that given under apple. Rust. The same rust fungus (Gymnosporangium macropus Lk.), in the cluster cup stage appears on the crabapple leaves and fruit as well as upon the leaves and fruit of apple, and leaves of crataegus. (See Apple). CROCUS Root-Rot. Little study has been made with us of the diseases of bulbous plants, yet we are liable to import those occurring in Europe. The common root infesting fungus, Rhizoctonia, is one of the determined troubles of crocus in France. Micro- scopic identification of the trouble should be easy owing to the charac- ters of the fungus. CUCUMBER Anthracnose (Colletotrichum Fig. 47, Cucumber leaf and stem attacked by Lagenarium (Pass.) Hals.). This Anthracnose. The dead areasin the cucumber leaf, fungous disease attacks nearly or caused by Anthracnose, are usually larger and more it rl bi 1 th nearly circular in outline than with downy mildew. quite -all curcur its as well as Ae! bean. Upon the cucumberin Ohio it is apparently more destructive during the earlier season. The fungus may be found in the greenhouses at all cultural periods, as well as in the field. It causes circular dead spots in the leaves, usually more than one-fourth inch in diameter, and likewise elongated brown areas on the stem. (See Bulletin 73, 89 and 105)- DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 393, Unlike the downy mildew, anthracnose may be checked after it appears, though best prevented by earlier applications of the fungicide. In the field, Bordeaux mixture is to be preferred; inthe greenhouse, copper sulfate solution, one pound to 50 gallons, has proved efficient and has checked the anthracnose after one- fourth of the plants had been destroyed by it. Damping-off is a frequent trouble upon greenhouse cucumbers. It is serious often where plantings are made following lettuce attacked by rosette. The fungus in that case is the same as lettuce rosette (2hizoctonia) or lettuce drop (Botrytis). There isa strictly damping-off fungus (Pythium De Baryanum Hesse) that is sometimes troublesome. The Botrytis named at times attacks pruned parts of cucumber plants, also extending its attacks to the blossom end of young fruits. - The results of Rhizoctonia on greenhouse cucumbers have been curious owing to attacks on the smaller root branches or rootlets. The growth of the vines is at times checked, accompanied by coloring of the leaves and reduced “fruitfulness. Some grow- ers have given the name ‘eaf-curl’’? to this phe- nomenon but it is strictly the effect of the fungus named. It has been found necessary in soiltreatments where cucumbers follow affected lettuce to increase the strength of formalin drench to 4 or 5 pounds per 50 gallons of water. {See Soil Diseases). Downy Mildew. Downy -mildew fungus (fPlasmo- para Cubensis (B. & C.) Humpbh. ) is late in its at- tacks, not having been found in Ohio fields earlier than August 3rd. It causes Fig. 48. Cucumber leaf from greenhouse, attacked by Downy angular, yellowish spots Mildew. The spots in the leaves caused by the mildew are on the leaves, followed by usually outlined by the veinlets of the leaf.—From a photograph yellowing of the whole leaf >¥ 7 F- Manns. and death, as by frost. It spreads with extraordinary rapidity, requiring only three or four days to become disseminated throughout a large field. Unlike anthracnose, it may not be successfully checked after its appearance, and it is not safe to leave untreated plots in fields to be sprayed. July 25th to August 1st is sufficiently early to begin spraying for mildew, but applications should be repeated at intervals of 7 or 9 days. In 1898 an increase of 75 bushels per acre, of sprayed over unsprayed cucumbers, was obtained at Creston. (Bulletin 105). Cucumber pickle growing finds in this mildew its most serious enemy. If any of the crop is to be harvested after August 20-25 spraying with fungicides ap- pears necessary. Early planting may permit gathering the crop before this date. The downy mildew is also very destructive in the forcinghouse, and is to be treated with the same fungicides recommended for anthracnose. (Bulletins 73, 89 and 105). 394 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 214 Leaf-spot of cucumber is also due to fungi. (Phyllosticta Cucurbitacearum Sacc. and Cercospora Cucurbitae E.&E.) Of- the two species named, the Phyllosticta was the commoner in thrifty pickle fields in 1898; the Cercospora being apparently confined to wet fields, though this cannot be expected to hold true under all circumstances. The Phyllosticta was found almost exclusively upon the unsprayed pickle plants and seems, therefore, amenable to the same treatment as applied for downy mildew. (Bulletin 105). Mosaic Disease of greenhouse cucumbers has been recently studied in Ohio. This disease is analagous in character to the mosaic disease of tobacco and to- matoes and to the yellows of the peach. It is due to an oxidizing ferment in the leaves and is transmitted like the tobacco mosaic disease, by touching first dis- eased and then healthy plants. The fruitfulness of these variegated yellow plants is very low and it is best at all times upon the appearance of the disease to remove the diseased plants and destroy them. Nematodes or Eelworms (Hetervodera radicicola (Greef.) Mull.). These minute parasitic worms are often very destructive upon cucumbers under glass, They are especially soin some cases recorded in Bul- letin 73. The greatest injury may occur on the seedling plants, but plants of all ages ‘are destroyed by the para- sitic worms. Their presence may be known by the small, bead-like enlargements produced upon the roots or rootlets. This matter is treated at some length in that Bulletin. No remedy has been discovered that is effec- tive with plants once attacked by eelworms. The time to prevent this trouble is in the selection or preparation ~ or treatment of the the soil for greenhouse benches. Indeed the nematodes seem to be present in old sod, and to some extent in decaying vegetable matter generally. An effective remedy against eelworms consists in steam- ing and so treating the soil that the parasites will be destroyed. For this procedure see calendar and Bul- letin 73. Also Massachsetts Exp. Sta. Bul. 55, In thus handling the soil due time must be given for draining and drying. Powdery Mildew (Zrysiphe Cichoracearum DC.) of Fig. 49. Roots of seed- cucumbers is also frequent in the forcing house, but ling cucumber with Nem- rarely destructive elsewhere. For this fungus a dilute ae ca ie sla copper sulfate solution is effective. See Bulletin 73. wae ep ty Root-Rot. The root-rot or so-called ‘‘leaf-curl’’ development on matured cucumber plants referred to Rhizoctonia, is often serious. It is more fully discussed under damping-off above. Spot of Cucumber Fruit or Cucumber Scab (Cladosporium cucumerium Ell, & Arth.), has been reported upon cucumbers by Dr. Arthur (Ind. Exp. Sta. Bul. 19), and may prove injurious if prevalent. It should be found amenable to the same treatment recommended for anthracnose and downy mildew. Cucumber Wilts. The wilt diseases of cucumbers, likewise of other cucur- bits, are a source of usual complaint in the earlier season, as the plants are beginning to form vines. In 1899 these complaints continued much later. The plants suddenly wilt down as from lack of water, then soon die. What has been referred to the same general cause was also observed in the cucumber forcing- house, apparently starting in the leaves. Smith (Proc. Am. Ass. Adv. Sci. 1893) refers this disease to a bacterium (Bacillus tracheiphilue Smith) which is trans- _ ferred from diseased to healthy plants by the cucumber beetle and the squash bug. This form of wilt has been found on cucumbers, muskmelons and squashes DISEASES OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 395 in Ohio. In addition we have found to a limited extent, another wilt disease of the cucumber which appears to be similar to that described by Dr. Smith. (Proc. Am. Ass. Adv. Sci. 1895, p. 190). On watermelons in the South he finds a trouble with which ours may be identical. (Bul. 105, p. 222). This latter is referable to a species of fungus, a fusarium (/usarium niveum Smith), which grows internally in the stem and finally plugs up the water vessels in a manner similar to the work of the bacterial wilt. Spraying is unlikely to be beneficial for this wilt or for the bacterial one. Preventive measures suggest gathering and burning infected vines, and especially waging a successful war against the insects; these should prove more or less successful according to thoroughness of work. The fusarium wilt calls for rotation of crops. Much may be finally done by breeding varieties resistant to wilt. CURRANT Anthracnose. The anthracnose (Gloeosporium ribis (Lib.) Mont.) of the currant has occurred occasionally and will apparently be checked by the same treat- ment as given for raspberry anthracnose. Cane Blight is a very serious disease whenever stools are attacked by it. The fungus (Vectria cinnabarina (Tode) Fr.) survives by its threads in the tissues of the stool and upon the death of the canes develops as a bright pink mass of the fungus upon dead parts. While spraying may, and surely must, keep down the risk of infection, whenever stools show attacks by dying of a part of the canes and the development of this fungus these infected stools are doomed and should be removed and burned. Black-Knot.