16 



REPORT OF TTTE FIRST SEMT-ANNUAT; MEETTNCJ 



a rapid decay, as well as infection of branches and destruction of 

 upper parts of the tree. They also call attention to the fact that 

 the same results may be l^rought about by infection with the iMtter 

 rot fungus of the apple, and seriously question whether there is 

 much, if any, distinction to be made between the two fungi. It 

 should be understood that we are not stating that the rot fungus 

 obtained from the avocado is identical with the two fungi men- 

 tioned, Sphaeropsis malorum and Diplodia natalensis, but that the 

 fungus from the avocado has developed spores in pycnidia in exactly 

 the same manner as in the other fungi, and the growth of the avo- 

 cado fungus is not distinguishable in character from the growth of 

 Sphaeropsis malorum wh^ch is being cultivated in our la1:)oratory 

 by one of our students, Mr. Hahn, and which has been submitted to 

 Mr. Hesler, of Cornell University, and is in his judgment the true 

 Sphaeropsis malorum. Inoculations on avocado fruit with the 

 fungus from apple have not yet produced exactly the same result as 

 inoculations with the avocado fungus, but there is still time for the 

 same conditions to develop. 



"It may be permissible to remark that the decay processes 

 concerned in the avocado will be of an entirely different character 

 from decay processes in the more Avatery and acid fruits, being 

 more comparable to the decays of bananas than to those, for in- 

 stance, of oranges and peaches, or still more like those of olives. 

 Bacteria of various kinds will be able to grow in the avocado flesh 

 in all probability, not being restrained by the presence of acids, and 

 it does not seem probable that we shall have many organisms which 

 will cause the rapid collapse of the avocado flesh,- as do various 

 fungi affecting citrus fruits and the acid deciduous fruits. TIow- 

 ever, we have seen enough to realize that there will be something 

 for the plant pathologist to study in connection with the fungus 

 and bacterial infection of avocado fruits in connection with their 

 harvesting and delivery to the consumer. 



"Let us hope that these fungi are not able to gain entrance 

 easily into the avocado flesh, since the fruits will doubtless be more 

 acceptable to the consumer in their fully ripened condition than in 

 a condition of partial ripeness. should not, however, relax our 



vigilance, so that we may be able at the earliest possible moment 

 to cope with any problem of this nature which may arise. It is 

 hoped that studies here described may be carried a little farther, 

 so that we may know definitely the character of the rot produced 

 by each particular type of organism, and some other facts which 

 may be of practical interest. It is not contemplated, however, to 

 proceed with what may be considered a thorough investigation of 

 this subject at the present time, but only to give some preliminary 

 idea of some of the problems which may be involved." 



(vSigned) "WM. T. HORNE." 



