4 MISC. PUBLICATION 5 41, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



symptoms of this disease. However, occasionally some tissues are 

 affected near the surface of the root and cracks occur; these permit 

 secondary rot-producing fungi to invade these areas. 



This trouble may be avoided by applying borax to the soil. As the 

 amount needed varies with different types of soil, the recommenda- 

 tions of local authorities should be followed. 



(See 19, 11 % IIS, U9.) 



Scab 



{Actinomyces scabies (Thaxt.) Giissow) 



Scab is comparatively rare on beets, but occasionally it causes ap- 

 preciable damage when they are planted in heavily infested soil. The 

 pathogen is the same as that which causes common scab on potatoes. 

 On beets the scab lesions are superficial and much like those on 

 potatoes except that they usually are more protruding and rounded. 

 Aifected roots are so conspicuously blemished that they are seldom 

 offered on the market. 



(See 88.) 



ENDIVE AND ESCAROLE 



Endive for the market consists of the leaf heads of Cichorium en- 

 divia L., an annual or biennial salad plant. The leaves of commercial 

 endive are narrow, curled, and more or less finely divided. Most of 

 the endive shipped to the larger markets is grown in California, 

 Arizona, and Texas. On the market endive is often called "chicory." 3 



Broadleaved varieties of endive, such as Broad Leaved Batavian, 

 have rather thick, broad, more or less twisted and waved leaves with 

 broad, nearly white midribs and are commonly known as escarole. 

 The leaves of escarole are larger and more fleshy than those of the 

 common narrow-leaved endive. Most escarole shipped to the larger 

 markets is grown in Florida and other Southern States. It is used 

 chiefly as a salad plant. 



Diseases of importance that are found affecting endive and escarole 

 are bacterial soft rot, bottom rot {Corticium solani), downy mildew 

 (p. 9), gray mold rot (Botinjtis sp.), watery soft rot, and two virus 

 diseases (mosaic and yellows). 



Bacterial soft rot, leaf discolorations, and watery soft rot are the 

 most important market troubles. 



(See 87, 150.) 



Bacterial Soft Rot 



(Erwinia carotovora (Jones) Holland and other organisms) 



Bacterial soft rot is the most important market disease of endive 

 and escarole. The symptoms are water soaking, softening, and mushy 

 disintegration of the affected leaf tissues. 



3 The term "chicory," as correctly used, refers to edible roots, leaves, or leaf heads of a 

 perennial plant {Cichorium intybus L.) that is closely related to endive. Chicory is pre- 

 pared for food in a variety of ways. Matured roots are ground, dried, mixed with coffee, 

 and used for beverage purposes. Young roots may be boiled and served like carrots, while 

 the young leaves are cooked and eaten like dandelions or spinach. Chicory finds its widest 

 use as a salad plant in the form of large, slender, compact, blanched leaf heads that are 

 grown under special conditions and marketed under the name witloof or "French endive." 



