FUNGI AFFECTING THE BEAN 



The Pod=spot or Anthracnose 



Collet otrichum lagenarium 



Young bean pods, especially of the yellow or wax 

 varieties, are often affected by small reddish-brown 

 spots, slightly sunken beneath the surrounding area. 

 As the pods develop these spots increase in size, and 

 their centers become blackened. In course of time 

 many of them may run together to form long discolored 

 blotches upon the sides of the pods, and generally the 

 blackened centers eventually become of a dirty gray or 

 light brown color. The effect upon the pod of such an 

 attack is disastrous ; it is shrunken and out of shape, 

 and the beans within are dwarfed and shriveled. 



This disease is seldom destructive, except during 

 seasons of rainy weather. It occurs in several European 

 countries, and has been found over a large portion of 

 the United States. It winters over, in part, by means 

 of diseased seeds, which, when planted, start the fungus 

 again, and it spreads rapidly when sound and affected 

 string beans are sent to market in the same receptacle. 

 This same fungus attacks melons, and other cucurbita- 

 ceous plants, causing a rind- rot. Consequently, beans 

 and melons should not folloAV each other in rotation, as 

 the spores in the ground will cause trouble. 



While the attack of this fungus on the pod is most 

 noticeable, it does not confine itself to this part of the 

 plant. In case diseased beans are used for planting, 

 the attack may be noticeable as soon as the seed-leaves 

 come up, and may develop so rapidly as to injure the 

 9 129 



