A PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TWO STRAINS OF 



FUSARIUM IN THEIR CAUSAL RELATION TO 



TUBER ROT AND WILT OF POTATO 



CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HULL BOTANICAL LABORATORY 219 



George K. K. Link 



(WITH THIRTEEN FIGURES) 



There is little doubt among phytopathologists that members of 

 the genus Fusarium play an important role in producing diseased 

 conditions in many plants, both wild and cultivated. According to 

 Wollenweber (41), Fusarium spp. produce wilt in members of 

 the following families: Liliaceae, Bromeliaceae, Musaceae, Solana- 

 ceae, Convolvulaceae, Leguminosae, Malvaceae, Linaceae, Cucur- 

 bitaceae. Cruciferae, Compositae, Araliaceae, Caryophyllaceae, 

 and Pedaliaceae. 



History 



The genus Fusarium was established by Link (20, 21) in 1809, 

 and Fusarium species were reported on rotted and ring-discolored 

 tubers by Martius in 1842, Hartig in 1846, and Schacht in 1856. 

 Pizzigoni (29) and Wehmer (38, 39) demonstrated by experi- 

 mental inoculation that Fusarium species can bring about tuber 

 rot. They referred to the Fusarium in question as F. solani. 

 Others, however, among them Frank (ii, 12), repeating their work, 

 obtained negative results so far as Fusarium species were concerned; 

 while De Bary (6) and many others regarded the Fusarium spp. 

 as nothing more than obligate saprophytes. 



RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 9, AGR. EXP. STATION OF NEBR. 



