DISEASES OF MINOR FRUIT PLANTS 353 



Maublanc has recorded a perithecial form associated with the 

 spots, to which he has given the name Sphcerella CariccB. 



The disease is reported from Brazil, Paraguay, Florida. 

 Bermuda and Porto Rico. It has recently been found in Trinidad, 

 and the only previous record from the Lesser Antilles known to 

 the writer is based on specimens forwarded by W. Robson from 

 Montserrat, with the information that the disease was only met 

 with in a locality which for some reason has proved distinctly 

 unsuitable for the cultivation of this plant. 



Stem and Fruit Rot. 



Localised stem rots of the papaw similar in their appearance 

 and perhaps identical have been seen in Montserrat, St. Vincent, 

 Barbados and Trinidad. A similar trouble has been mentioned 

 in Porto Rico. The causative organism has not with certainty 

 been isolated in any of these cases. Imported varieties are highly 

 susceptible, and considerable losses have occurred at times on 

 the local kinds. Plants growing under very favourable conditions 

 are liable to attack. 



A water-soaked area first appears on the stem, apparently in 

 any situation, the tissues turn brown, and a depressed and 

 shrunken patch, which may be several inches long, is produced. 

 This soon becomes infested with bacteria and with fly and 

 beetle larvae, and usually leads to the failure of the leaves and the 

 breaking of the stem. Lesions which in their earlier stages are 

 similar in appearance may also occur on the fruit. 



|A species of Gloeosporium or Colletotrichum has been found 

 in early and close association with the disease on stem and fruit 

 in material from Barbados and Montserrat. A Colletotrichum 

 is exceedingly common on failing leaves. 



Cultures of a Fusarium were obtained in St. Vincent, but gave 

 doubtful results in infection experiments. A similar infection in 

 India has been produced by inoculation with Pytkmm hutleri. 



No actual experience of control has been obtained, but, as 

 natural recovery sometimes occurs, it seems likely that the 

 cutting out of the patches in the stem before they are far ad- 

 vanced, and the treatment of the wound with an antiseptic 

 such as weak Jeyes fluid, might be effective. 



Tomato. 



Blossom-End Rot. 



Blossom-end rot is a disease of tomatoes which seems to occur 

 in most if not all of the countries in which the fruit is grown. 

 In the West Indies the writer has seen it in Barbados, St. 

 Vincent, and Antigua, on plants grown in black loam, light 

 volcanic soil, and heavy clay respectively. 



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