25— NOTE ON FUSICLADIUM : AFFECTING APPLES 

 AND PEARS IN CAPE COLONY. 



By J. B. Pole Evans, B.A., B.Sc, Plant Pathologist. 



There are two distinct diseases affecting apples in the Colony. 

 The one under discussion in this note affects the leaves, twigs, and 

 fruits of both apple and pear. 



The fruit, the most important article from the grower's point of 

 view, is attacked at all stages of development, but especially after 

 the petals have fallen and the fruit is no bigger than a marble. 



To such an extent is the young fruit affected at this stage that it 

 usually shrivels and drops off. 



The appearance of the disease to the naked eye is the same in aU 

 cases ; usually round, rough, dark, olive-green and velvety patches 

 appear on the leaves, twigs and fruit. 



The fruit, if it continues to grow in spite of these spots, nearly 

 always does so at the expense of cracking. 



Cutting such an apple across shows that internally it is quite 

 healthy. 



The other disease, a far more serious trouble, is known locally 

 as " Bitter Pit." 



Externally this disease is only seen on fruit which is nearing 

 maturity, and, what is more serious still to the exporter, appears on 

 apparently sound apples, after they have been packed in cold storage. 



To the naked eye this disease appears first as smooth, dark- 

 green, and slightly sunken depressions usually towards the upper end 

 of the apple. Later on these depressions turn brown, then black in 

 colour, and entirely disfigure the whole apple, and, further, when 

 the apple is sliced open it is spotted here and there with masses of 

 dry brown tissue. 



With regard to this latter disease we shall have nothing further 

 to say here. 



Fusicladium. 



As far back as 1888, Professor MacOwen attributed the disease 

 on certain leaves and fruits of the Saffraan Pear to the fungus Fusi- 

 cladium dendriticum, Fckl. He also reported that he had occasion- 

 ally noted the same fungus on Apples in the Colony. 



As some doubt has recently arisen with regard to this disease, 

 I was invited to visit Cape Colony during the month of March and 

 investigate the matter. 



Some of the results of this investigation are put forward in the 

 present note, the object of which is to show that there are two specific 

 fungi present in Cnpe Colony, namely Fitsicladinm dendriticum, 

 Fckl, attacking Apples, and Fusicladium firinum, Fckl., found on 

 Pears. 



