151 



Anthracnoso caused by ('oUrtolricJiKiii phnmnUJcH was noted on the ripe 

 fruit at an Indianapolis eaiinin.i,' factory. 



Tlie mosaic disease Itecanie j^enerally ])revalent llironjilioiit central In- 

 diana during tlie last half of the season. The di.sease was not noted to any 

 extent in the Paoli region nor in Lake Comity, hut was found in Knox, 

 .Marion, Clinton and Tipi)ec:iiii)(' conntics. It also occurred very generally 

 in the greeniiouses ciuiy in the sunumi- and has already (Novend»erl 

 liecome epidemic in the fall crop in one house. Most fields showed from r>0 

 to 1(M1% infection. Except for the low percentage of fern-leaf plants which 

 yield no marketable fruit whatever, the oHVct of the disease upon yield 

 is not known. 'I'he attack seemed to liavc occurred too late to noticealily 

 reduce tlie yii-ld this season. However, the di.sease has extremely destruct- 

 ive iK)ssibilities and should he considered a distinct danger to the tomato 

 industry. No resistant strains or varieties have been found. 



The non-parasitic blossom-end rot was prevalent in the greenhouse sum- 

 mer croj) and in the first fruit set in the canning crop, especially in the 

 Taoli region. The non-parasitic injury is almost invariably invaded by some 

 rot -producing fungus, such as Alternaria or Fu-sarium, so that affected 

 fruits are a total loss. A very considerable reduction in yield may be at- 

 tributed to this trouble. In a series of fertilizer plot tests at Paoli, no 

 difference was noted in the incidence of blossom-end rot. 



In the field crop later in the season, the non-parasitic growth cracks were 

 veiy i)revalent and were responsible for a large proportion of the fruit 

 rot since these ci'acks are subject to invasion by rot-producing organisms. 

 While the loss due to growth ci'ack invasion was considerable this year, 

 especially in canning stock shipped by rail, it was not nearly as heavy as 

 in years which are characterized by frequent rains dui'ing the picking 

 season. 



Sunscald was rather common in the market garden crop which was badly 

 affected with leaf-spot and to some extent in the canning crop as a result 

 of the hot weather early in September. Sunscald also affords an avenue of 

 invasion for rot-producing fungi. 



Catface, a disfiguration of the blossom-end of the fruit, was very common 

 in the canning crop. This does not predispo.se the fruit to rot. A very 

 shallow, brown, lace-like blemish on mature fruit, called "blotch" because 

 of the shape of the lesion, was found rather commonly. 



Among locally grown fruit on the sorting belts in a canning factory at 

 Indianapolis, September 30th, 10% showed infected growth cracks, 59^- 

 bactorial spot, 5%-blotch, O'/r -sunscald, 1%-catface, O.n^-anthracnose. 



Hollow stem was of common occurrence this year where spindling trans- 

 plants were used. Hollow stem was also caused l)y the extreme drouth, 

 the moisture being absorbed from the pith to supply the needs of the green 

 tissue. A conspicuous upward curling of the leaves and premature death of 

 the older leaves among garden tomatoes has also been attributed to drouth. 



Nematode root infestation was found in certain greenhouses. Affecte<l 



^Cooiis, G. II. :Mi(hifr;iii pin lit dis.'aso surv.-y for 1917. Mieh. Acad. Sci. 20th. 

 Am. Rep. 446. 1918. 



