^^ L1B«A«Y OF THE 



iBSsadmsetts Agrlcidtural folt^gr, 



AMHfiRST, MA^d. 



Massachusetts 

 Agricultural Experiment Station 



BULLETIN No. 229 APRIL, 1926 



SOIL REACTION AND BLACK 

 ROOT^ROT OF TOBACCO 



By P. J. ANDERSON, A. VINCENT OSMUN and W. L. DORAN 



Black root-rot is a serious menace to successful tobacco production 

 in the Connecticut Valley. The causal fungus is found in most tobacco 

 soils of the Valley. Low temperature during the growing season, and 

 high lime conditions in the soil, both stimulate its activity. Injury may 

 vary all the way from complete destruction of the crop, on heavily limed 

 soils in cold growing seasons, to a damage scarcely noticeable. Not only 

 does the root-rot depress yield, but it may injure quality of leaf as well. 



There are but two known methods of combating the disease: first, 

 through control of lime conditions in the soil; and secondly, through the 

 use of root-rot resistant strains of tobacco. This bulletin reports results 

 of research on the former. 



Requests for bulletins should be addressed to 



Agricultukai. Exi'LnoiENT Station 



Amherst, Mass. 



26. Order 5173. 



