310 THE PEANUT^THE UNPREDICTABLE LEGUME 



DEPREDATIONS OF ANIMALS 



Animals may damage peanut plants in any stage from the planted 

 seed to the mature plant. These depredations may be evident in forms 

 other than the eating of leaves, seeds or nuts. The damage to the peanut 

 crop caused by animals eating the mature or almost mature pods is some- 

 times quite spectacular. 



Gophers (tortoises) have been noted from Florida (119) as pests of 

 peanuts, and the western gopher (a rodent) was similarly noted from 

 Oklahoma {77^. Everyone has observed considerable numbers of dead 

 plants following attacks of moles on the root system. Skunks and wild 

 turkeys display a fondness for peanut pods in the "milk" stage. There is 

 nothing, however, which will indicate that any general importance can be 

 attached to such depredation of animals. 



PHYSIOLOGICAL OR NONPATHOGENIC DISEASES OF 



PEANUTS 



Mineral Deficiency Syitipfoius. The chart on next page summarizes 

 the known mineral-deficiency s}-mptoms on peanuts. 



Described Physiogenic Disorders. The following have been specifically 

 reported as nonpathogenic diseases of peanuts : 



"Clump" or "Bunch" . A condition called "clump" or "bunch" has 

 been described from India. Plants were densely clumped, with tufted and 

 dwarf shoots, yellowed leaves, arrested growth and erect habit. Yield of 

 affected plants was reported ( 147) as only 30 percent of normal. Poor 

 soil and the use of immature seeds were thought to be responsible. No 

 evidence of parasitism w as noted. It has been suggested that "clump" may 

 be a phase of rosette but the matter is still indefinite. 



Nonparasitic Leafspots. A peanut leafspot characterized by some- 

 what rectangular, brown to black splotches on the lower surface, with 

 pin-point necrotic areas was described from Georgia in 1941 (69). The 

 disorder, found on puddled clay soil, was believed to be a mineral de- 

 ficiency resulting from the puddling. 



Inherited Albinism. Albinism, varying from a few chlorotic streaks in 

 leaves to complete albinism of the entire plant, is a fairly common occur- 

 rence in peanut fields in southern United States. This albinism has not 

 been studied. The only logical explanation seems to be that it is a genetical 

 condition resulting from chance cross pollination. 



Pale Dzvarf. A condition called "pale dwarf" reported from Java in 

 1927 (58) was characterized by early paling and dwarfing of leaves. The 



