152 



plants are checked in their growth, tlie lower leaves die prematni'ely, and 

 the whole plant usually wilts and dies before maturing fruit so that in- 

 fested plants are practically a total loss. 



Turnip. 



I'crono.'^ixjra pdrasitica was found causing darkened regions within the 

 roots late in the storage season. The diseased tissue is roadily invaded and 

 rotted by Hhizoctonia or the soft rot bacteriii. 



Watermp:lon. 



The limiting factor in the watermelon industry in Indiana is the Fu- 

 sarium wilt disease. This soil trouble has rendered much land unfit for 

 water melon culture and necessitates the use of new soil each year. Wilt 

 has caused the growers in many districts to give up watermelon growing 

 entirely. For example, Vallonia was once an important watermelon ship- 

 ping point, but now practically no watermelons are grown in that district. 

 The disease is serious in Knox County, also. 



Anthraenose caused by CoUctofrichuin lagcnarium was not at all prev- 

 alent this year and was found only in two fields, one near Vincennes and 

 the other near Vallonia. A nunil)er of fields about Vincennes were planted 

 with treated seed. 



In one instance of a small watermelon patch in a large cantaloupe field, 

 the leaf blight caused by AlfrriKirid hrassicac var. nigresceus occurred on 

 the watermelons as well as the cantaloupes. 



There was considerable rotting of the fruits in the field in Knox County 

 due to infection through the non-parasitic blossom-end rot by Fusarium 

 and Diplodia. Stem-end rot is not encountered in shipments of Indiana 

 melons, according to J. R. Cavanaugh. 



Wheat. 



Very general concern was occasioned by the discovery of a foot rot of 

 wheat much resembling the Australian "take-all" di.sease.^ This disease 

 was first found in Madison County, Illinois, where a considerable acreage 

 was involved. In Indiana the disease was fovuid in one field in Tippecanoe 

 County, in five fields near Laporte, and in six fields in I'orter County be- 

 tween Valparaiso and Wanatah. All but two of these fields were planted 

 with Salzer's Red Cross Variety. 



This disease occurs either in well defined spots in the field or may in- 

 volve moi'e or less all of the field. AVhen first noted during May the dis- 

 eased plants were distinctly stunted, being only a few inches high while 

 normal plants were knee high. The affected plants showed excessive 

 tillering and the rosette effect as well as a darker green color were very 

 marked. A large percentage of plants were killed outright. Closer examin- 

 ation .showed a dark brown discoloration and rotting of the leaf sheaths and 

 stem just above the ground line. 



