' A PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TWO STRAINS OF ' 
FUSARIUM IN THEIR CAUSAL RELATION TO 
TUBER ROT AND WILT OF POTATO J 
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HULL BOTANICAL LABORATORY 219 
George K. K. Link 
(with thirteen figures) 
There is little doubt among phytopathologists that members of 
the genus Fusarium play an important role in producing diseased 
conditions in many plants, both wild and cultiyated. According to 
WoLLENWEBER (41), Fiisariitm spp. produce wilt in members of 
the following families : Liliaseae, Bromeliaceae, Musaceae, Solana- 
ceae, Conyolyulaceae, Leguminosae, Malyaceae, Linaceae, Cucur- 
bitaceae. Cruciferae, Compositae, Araliaceae, Caryophyllaceae. 
and Pedaliaceae. 
History 
The genus Fusarium was established by Link (20, 21 ) in 1809, 
and Fusarium species were reported on rotted and ring-discolored 
tubers by Martius in 1842, Harttg in 1846, and Schacht in 1856. 
PizziGONi (29) and WV.hmer (38, 39) demonstrated by experi- 
mental inoculation that Fusarium. species can bring about tuber 
rot. They referred to the Fusarium in question as F. solani. 
Others, howeyer, among them Frank (11, 12), repeating their work, 
obtained negatiye results so far as Fusarium species were concerned ; 
while De Bary (6) and many others regarded the Fusarium spp. 
as nothing more than obligate saprophytes. 
research bulletin no. 9, AGR. EXP. STATION OF NEP.T'. 
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