CORAL SPOT DISEASE 131 



CORAL SPOT DISEASE 



(Nectria cinnabarina. Fries.) 



The numerous bright, coral-hke warts, about the size 

 of a millet seed, thickly studded over the surface of dead 

 branches, have probably been noticed by most people at 

 one time or another. These are the conidial condition 

 of Nectria cinnabarina. The conidia are exceedingly 

 minute, and produced in myriads. During the autumn 

 and early winter, these warts assume a darker red colour, 

 and become minutely warted, due to the formation of the 

 second or ascigerous form of fruit. 



The fungus often lives as a parasite, but is also a wound- 

 parasite, attacking various trees — sycamore, lime, horse- 

 chestnut, and more especially the red currant. 



The spores or conidia germinate on the surface of a 

 wound, and the mycelium passes into the living tissue, 

 where it extends until a portion of the branch is killed, 

 when the bright-coloured fruit is formed on the surface. 



Preventive Means. — As the mycelium spreads quickly 

 in the branches much beyond the point where it indicates 

 its presence externally, cuttings should not be taken from 

 diseased trees. 



Diseased branches should be cut off and burned, as 

 should also rotten sticks lying on the ground. 



Cooke, 'A Currant Twig and Something on it,' Gard. 

 Chron., Feb. 28, 187 1. 



Mayr, ' Ueber den Parasitismus von Nectria cinnabarina,' 

 Unters. a. d. Forstbotan. Inst, zu Miinchen., vol. iii. p. i, 

 1883. 



Durand, Cornell. Univ. Agric. Expt. Station, Bull. 125, 



