724 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXVI. No. 673 



SPECIAL ARTICLES 



TWO INTERESTING APPLE FUNGI 



Hypochnus. — A fungus which appears to be 

 Hypochnus ochraleuca^ of Noack published 

 first in 1902 as Hypochnopsis, occurring on 

 apples and quinces in Brazil/ and which 

 does not seem heretofore to have been seen 

 elsewhere than in Brazil, was collected by the 

 writer in the mountains of North Carolina in 

 the autumn of 1906 as being very destructive 

 on apples and quinces in that region, espe- 

 cially in damp localities and on neglected 

 trees. It was also later found on the pear in 

 the same region by Mr. J. G. Hall. 



Later specimens were received from Fatima 

 on the coastal plain in the eastern part of the 

 state, showing the fungus to be of much wider 

 range than was at first suspected. The fungus, 

 as at first seen, consisted of sclerotial bodies 

 on the branches in proximity with affected 

 leaves. 



It was not until September 4, 1907, that 

 spores of the fungus were found by Mr. J. 

 G. Hall, of this laboratory, on leaves asso- 

 ciated with twigs having the same sclerotial 

 forms so frequently collected before. These 

 spore-bearing specimens were collected at 

 Mt. Airy by Professor F. C. Eeimer and 

 brought to this laboratory by him for ex- 

 amination. The fruiting stage exists as a 

 filmy white to brownish network covering the 

 lower sides of the affected leaves. 



While it has not yet been possible to com- 

 pare this fungus with authentic specimens of 

 Noack's fungus, it seems very probable from 

 the description that the species in hand is 

 identical with his. The fungus is wide- 

 spread and of serious import. 



The localities so far known, from the most 

 of which collections have been made, are: 



On Apple 



Horseshoe, August 18, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 



Addie, August, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 



Franklin, August, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 



Hayesville, August, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 



' Saccardo, " Sylloge Fungorum," XVI., 197. 



' Boletim do Instituto Agronomico do estado de 

 Sao Paulo Em Campinas, Vol. IX., 1898, Marco 

 Numero 1. Sao Paulo, Brazil. 



Marshall, August, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 

 Murphy, August, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 

 Eobbinsville, August, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 

 Sylva, October 3, 1906, J. G. Hall. 

 Horseshoe, October 10, 1906, J. G. Hall. 

 Bryson City, March Y, 1907, G. P. Miller. 

 Fatima, March 14, 190Y, J. F. Johnson. 

 Marshall, March 21, 190Y, J. C. Tilson. 

 Fatima, April 8, 190Y, J. F. Johnson. 

 Bryson City, April 8, 190Y, F. 0. McCracken. 

 Newton, August 28, 190Y, B. B. Higgins. 

 Enfolia, October 31, 190Y, B. B. Higgins. 

 Mt. Airy, September 2, 190Y, F. C. Eeimer. 



On Pear 

 Sylva, October 3, 1906, J. G. Hall. 



On Quince 



Horseshoe, August 18, 1906, F. L. Stevens. 



A Phyllosticta Canker. — A canker of apple 

 twigs due to Phoma or a Phyllosticta has been 

 repeatedly collected in the state as follows: 



June 8, 190Y, Cary, J. G. Hall. 



August 19, 190Y, Auburn, J. G. Hall. 



May 1, 190Y, West Ealeigh, F. L. Stevens. 



May 6, i90Y, West Ealeigh, F. L. Stevens. 



August 30, 190Y, Newton, B. B. Higgins. 



The fungus seems to be wide-spread on 

 this host and the cankers are destructive to the 

 trees. The fungus was isolated and culti- 

 vated in agar plate culture in April, 1907, and 

 inoculation experiments have been in progress 

 since that time. 



It assumes much more than local im- 

 portance from the fact that, on examination 

 of specimens which were kindly submitted 

 by Mr. W. M. Scott, it appears that the 

 fungus is identical with the one referred to 

 by Scott and Eores' as causing a serious 

 apple fruit disease in Arkansas; one which is 

 rapidly increasing in importance and de- 

 structiveness. Also from specimens kindly 

 submitted by Professor John L. Sheldon, it 

 seems to be the same as the fungus supposed 

 by him to be P. solitaria E. & E., which he 



•"The Relation of Twig Cankers to the Phyl- 

 losticta Apple Blotch," Proc. Benton Co. Eort. 

 Soc. Arkansas, August 8, 1907. 



' " Concerning the Relationship of Phyllosticta 

 solitaria to the Fruit Blotch of Apples," Science, 

 N. S., 26, 658, 183, August 9, 1907. 



