COOPERATION IN THE INVESTIGATION AND CON- 

 TROL OF PLANT DISEASES^ 



Karl F. Kellerman 



Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture 



Systematic botanists and mycologists can render material aid 

 to the attempt to control the spread of destructive plant diseases 

 by more widespread distribution of information concerning the 

 unexpected occurrence of diseased plants in regions remote from 

 their usual range, and the occurrence of new plant diseases. 

 Cooperation among specialists now exists to a certain degree and 

 with the further specialization of each branch of science it will 

 probably become more and more the practice of the specialist in 

 any one field to refer related questions and material to specialists 

 in other fields. 



This tendency, however, unfortunately overlooks the increasing 

 responsibilities of the federal, state, and local officials responsible 

 for effective inspections and the maintenance of established quar- 

 antines. Through more intimate contact with these officials 

 specialists not only contribute greatly to the efficiency and eco- 

 nomic value of quarantines against plant diseases, but also open 

 to themselves new avenues for receiving immediate information 

 regarding the occurrence of new diseases. The citrus canker 

 disease is the most striking recent example of the introduction, 

 gradual increase, and destructive prevalence of a distinctive disease 

 before its existence was recognized by plant pathologists. Inti- 

 mate contact between inspectors and pathological specialists would 

 render such an occurrence impossible. 



The establishment of a more thorough plant disease survey is 

 desirable as well as the development of a clearing house for in- 

 formation regarding the occurrence and prevalence of diseases and 

 insect pests, but such a development will not be feasible until the 

 specialists themselves recognize their economic responsibility in 

 this work. 



1 Abstract. 



517 



