FUSARIUM 495 



leaf at first becomes pale yellow, beginning at the edge and 

 gradually extending inwards, afterwards becoming brown. 

 Mycelium causes the vascular bundles to assume a brown 

 colour. Conidia of the Fusarium type, pluriseptate and 

 slightly curved, were found. Plants that are attacked are 

 either killed or so far injured that the crop is seriously 

 affected. 



Atkinson, Alabama Agric. Expt. Station, Bull. No. 41 

 (1892). 



Flax wilt. This disease, caused by Fusarium lini (Boll.), 

 has long been known in Ireland, Holland, Belgium, and 

 N. France, although curiously enough it is uncommon in 

 Russia. In the United States it is a menace to the growth 

 of flax. The term 'flax-sick' is applied to land that has 

 produced a succession of crops that are diseased, and 

 consequently infects the flax. The fungus is present in the 

 soil, and is capable of living as a saprophyte, more especially 

 on decaying portions of flax, and has been known to survive 

 in the land for four years, during which period no flax was 

 grown, after which the crop of flax wilted badly. Flax 

 plants are attacked at all ages ; if the soil is badly infected, 

 most of the seedlings are killed before they appear above 

 ground. Young plants suddenly wilt and soon die. Old 

 plants that are quite woody often assume a yellowish, sickly 

 appearance, wilt at the top, and gradually dry up and die. 

 Death is caused by the mycelium of the fungus filling up the 

 water-conducting system of the plant, which consequently 

 wilts and dies owing to lack of water. 



Spore-beds erumpent, pale-cream or flesh-colour. Conidia 

 of the usual Fusarium type, fusiform, slightly curved, 27-38 



X 3-3'5 P- 



Rotation of crops is recommended. Do not grow two 

 crops of flax in succession on the same land. Bum as much 

 of the flax stubble as possible. Avoid deep sowing; one- 

 half to three-quarters of an inch is the best depth. The 

 seed should be treated with formalin before sowing to 

 destroy spores adhering to it. One part of formalin to 

 300 parts water for damping the seed. 



Bolley, U.S.A. Agric. Expt. Sta. N. Dakota, Bull. 50. 

 Cherry flower bud disease. Aderhold has described the 



