Wolf : A Fusarium Disease of the Pansy 



21 



ments in the stem tissue, and the presence of spores in the center 

 of the stem. 



At the same time, a large bed was noticed in which the plants 

 were all killed, which on examination and by cultures proved to 

 be due to the same Fusarium. 



Since no species of Fusarium have been described as occurring 

 on the pansy or other members of the violet family, the name 

 Fusarium Violae is proposed for this species, which is character- 

 ized as follows : 



Fusarium Violae sp. nov. 



Parasitic on the stems and roots of Viola tricolor, causing the 

 formation of dark, sunken areas on the stems and the destruc- 

 tion of the root-system. Macrospores hyaline, fusiform-falcate, 

 28-38 /X long and 4-6 /x wide, 3-5-septate. Sporodochia borne 

 within the stems. In cultures, the hyphae are white and cottony, 

 and the microspores, which are 8.5-12.5 X 2-3.5 ju, are formed 

 profusely from short side branches. In hanging drop cultures, 

 these spores are capable of very vigorous growth, forming much- 

 branched hyphae. 



Hyphis mycelii hyalinis, 4-7 diam., irregulariter ramosis, 

 matricem truncorum et radicium penetrantibus ; sporodochiis 

 intus, forma indefinita. Macroconidiis hyalinus, fusiformibus 

 f alcatiis, 28-38 X 4-6 3-5 septatis ; microconidiis continuis, 

 8.5-12.5 X2-3.5 /X, e conidiophorum ramulis brevibus oriundis. 



Hab. in truncis vivis et radicibus Violae tricoloris, quam des- 

 truit; in truncis maculis brunneis vel nigris factis, et radicibus 

 destructis. 



One factor was observed in connection with this fungus which 



might lead to its control. The pansies were destroyed only in 



those beds which had been fertilized with barnyard manure just 



previous to planting. Other beds which were not thus enriched 



before planting were normal. If due precaution is taken that the 



fertilizers are perfectly decomposed and mixed with the soil 



before the plot is used for a pansy bed, no injury may be expected. 



This can, perhaps, be best accomplished by applying the fertilizers 



in the season previous to the one in which the ground it to be 



used for pansies. 



School of Botany, 



University of Texas, 

 Austin, Tex. 



