Family Chenopodiaceae 133 



WHITE SMUT 

 Caused by Entyloma Ellisii Hals. 



Spinach smut is closely related to the smut of 

 onions or even to the grain smuts. The disease is of 

 rare occurrence. 



Symptoms. Instead of turning black, the leaves 

 assume a white frosty appearance, which renders 

 them, of course, worthless. The fungus has two forms 

 of spores. Those within the leaf are spherical and 

 grouped in small clusters just beneath the stomata, 

 while the second form is needleshaped and is borne 

 at the end of the minute threads on the surface of the 

 affected leaf (fig. 21 c). 



PHYLLOSTICTA LEAF BLIGHT 

 Caused by Phyllosticta chenopodii Sacc. 



This is a common disease, especially with older 

 plants. Like Anthracnose, leaf blight causes great 

 damage when once introduced in a field. 



Symptoms. Numerous minute spots appear, more 

 distinctly in the lower part of the leaf. Within them 

 are found scattered minute black bodies known as 

 pycnidia. These are microscopical, saclike bodies, 

 within which the spores of the fungus are borne. 

 During moist weather, the spores are seen to ooze 

 out as long white tendrils. The latter are made up 

 of millions of spores held together by a mucilaginous 



