36o DISEASES OF CROP-PLANTS 



formation of very large or very numerous gas bubbles under the 

 transparent skin of the fruit, replacing the pulpy tissues as they 

 were rapidly broken down. Finally, the whole content of the fruit 

 except the seeds was reduced to slime and gas, which escaped 

 sooner or later by the rupture of the pendent skin, leaving the 

 latter empty on the stalk. Needle-point inoculation of half- ripe 

 fruits in the evening gave rise to a hollow an inch in diameter in 

 two or three hours, and by next morning the process was com- 

 plete. Smearing the skin with the slime produced did not 

 cause infection unless a crack or other wound was present. The 

 natural infections examined appeared to have their origin in bug 

 punctures, made by Nezara and Leptoglossus. The losses due to 

 the disease were significant but not severe. 



Growths of the bacterium, apparently pure, were obtained by 

 transfers from one fruit to another, and consisted of long, actively 

 motile rods. Cultures were obtained on nutrient agar but time 

 could not be spared from other work to continue the study 

 further. Inoculations from diseased fruits into succulent stems 

 had no effect. 



No other record has been seen of a disease answering to this 

 description. 



