476 



CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



WO. 



thin-walled and oval in outline. The upper portion of 

 Fig. 103 shows a number of these spores much enlarged. 



The spores are 

 blown about by 

 the wind and 

 fall upon the 

 fruit. There in 

 the presence of 

 moisture the} 7 

 start to grow, as 

 shown i n the 

 lower half of 

 Fig. 103. A slen- 

 der tube is sent 

 out which con- 

 tinues to length- 

 en. If it can find 

 an entrance into 

 a fruit it grows 

 and develops, 

 forming a myce- 

 lium, and spores 

 are again soon 

 produced. 



Certain 



weather conditions are particularly favorable to the 

 disease. Hot, damp days and nights are ideal 

 for the growth of the fungus, while cold, dry weather 

 does not favor its development. 



The disease most frequently gains access to the fruit 

 in some injured spot. A slight bruise is sufficient. In- 

 sects puncture the rind and give a chance for it to enter. 

 If fruit is improperly cured and tightly packed into the 



Micro-photograph by Miss L. McCulloch. 



Fig 1 . 103. Spores of ripe-rot fungus above, 

 germinating- spores below, greatly enlarged. 



