268 



Solanaceous Fruits 



disease shows a dark discoloration. Control: Care should lie 

 used to avoid introducing the fungus into new fields and crop 

 rotation is desirable. 



Phomopsis leaf, fruit and stem disease (Pliomopsis vcx- 

 ans). — Irregular gray to brown spots on the leaves, and sunken 

 spots on the fruit are covered with the tiny black fruiting 

 bodies of the fungus. Slightly sunken cankers occur on the 

 stem. Control: Disinfection of the seed with corrosive sub- 

 limate 1 to 1,000 has been recommended. Seed is soaked in 

 the solution for ten minutes, rinsed at once in running water 

 for fifteen minutes and planted immediately. Clean soil in 

 the seed-bed and rotation of crops is important. 



Eggplant tortoise beetle {Cassida palUdula) . — A beautiful 

 green or greenish yellow tortoise beetle about 1/5 in. long that 

 feeds on the foliage. The eggs are laid in groups on the 

 underside of the leaves. The larva is armed with branched 

 spines and carries a mass of cast skins and excrement over 

 its back borne on two long spines. Both larva? and adults 

 eat round holes in the leaves and sometimes attack the youn%' 

 fruit; restricted to the Southern States. Control: Sprayin;? 

 with arsenate of lead (paste), 2 or 3 lbs. in 50 gals, water 

 often gives good results. 



Eggplant lace-bug (Gargaphia solani). — A small lace-bug 

 about 1/6 in. long, flat, with the prothorax expanded and cov 

 ered with a lacework pattern. Botli the young and the aduKs 

 puncture the leaves and suck out the .luices. Control: Spray 

 with 7 or 8 lbs. whale oil soap in 50 gals, water. 



Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa dccenilincata) . — See 

 under Potato. 



Eggplant flea-beetle (Ejntrix fuscula). — This small black 

 flea-beetle shows a preference for eggplant. The injury is 

 most serious during the first three weeks after transplant- 

 ing. Control: After the plants are taken from the seed-bed 

 dip the foliage in a 2-3-50 bordeaux mixture. One week or 

 ten days after transplanting spray thoroughly with 4-6-50 

 bordeaux mixture, to which has been added 4 lbs. of arsenate 

 of lead (paste) to each 50 gallons. 



