BEGONIA LEAF-BLIGHT NEMATODE 



*Results based on treatment of one to six plants. 



SUBMERSION OF LEAVES IN HOT WATER 



The submersion of potted plants in hot water lethal to the nematode should 

 provide a source of clean leaves for further propagation of the stock. However, 

 it would seem even better to use the hot-water treatment on selected healthy 

 begonia leaves from infested stock before rooting them in sand if they could 

 tolerate the treatment. Leaves were gathered in November and given various 

 hot-water treatments to determine the safety of this practice. Twenty-nine 

 temperature treatments of infested and non-infested leaves from Lady Mac and 

 'Marjorie Gibbs begonias were compared. Rooting was appreciably reduced by 

 the higher temperature baths when infested leaves were employed. The infested 

 leaf blades were badl}' injured by the high temperatures and most of the stock 

 was lost after shifting from the sand. When healthy leaves were employed, 

 rooting was not affected by those temperatures previously shown to be lethal 



