364 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I9IO. 



apple growing regions is caused by Glomorclla rufomaciilans 

 (Berk.) Sp. & von Sch., and is found occasionally in Maine, but 

 its occurrence is so rare that it is not necessary to recommend 

 special means for its control. Moreover it does not seem that 

 bitter rot will do great damage under Maine climatic concHtions 

 if the recommendations with regard to the removal of cankers 

 and spraying are followed as are given for the black rot fungus. 

 Where bitter rot is prevalent spraying later in the season is nec- 

 essary. Fig. 252 shows the appearance of this rot. The fungus 

 found here differs in certain characteristics from the form de- 

 scribed from farther south and there is some evidence from our 

 inoculations that it is not so actively parasitic. 



Brozvn rot. The brown rot of the apple is caused by 

 Sclcrotinia fructigcna (Pers.) Schroet., the same fungus which 

 causes the destructive brown rot of peaches and plums. This 

 decay of apples occurs to some extent in Maine and in some cases 

 may do considerable damage. Tlie fungus spreads through the 

 apple rapidly and in the early stages the surface of the decayed 

 region is smooth and brown. Later little tufts of fungus threads 

 break out on the surface of the apple and these produce the 

 spores as shown in Fig. 253. Often when this rot takes place 

 in storage, away from the 1 ght, the tufts of spores do not break 

 out on the surface and the skin assumes a shiny black color. 

 The apples become shrunken and wrinkled as they dry and in 

 some cases these mummied apples hang on the trees over win- 

 ter. It is these mummied apples which carry the fungus over 

 from one year to another and for that reason all decayed fruit 

 both on the trees and on the ground should be destroyed. The 

 spraying for apple scab will also help to control this fungus. 



Pink rot. In some seasons, especially when it is warm and 

 wet at the time of harvesting, scabby apples are attacked by 

 a fungus, Ccphalothcciiim roscum Cda., Fig. 254. This is 

 called pink rot on account of the appearance of the spots where 

 the fungus grows out to produce its spores. The fungus, usual- 

 ly a saprophyte, occurs on a large number of dead parts of 

 plants. Therefore, the material for the infection of apples is 

 present whenever the conditions are favorable for the growth of 

 this fungus. The fungus is unable to penetrate the uninjured 

 epidermis of the apple and scab spots afford the chief means of 

 entrance. To avoid loss from pink rot it is necessary to produce 

 apples which are free from scab. 



