UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
H BULLETIN No. 686 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
^>sj?*i?w u 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
June 24, 1918 
FURTHER STUDIES OF THE ROTS OF STRAWBERRY 
FRUITS. 
By Neil E. Stevens, Pathologist, and R. B. Wilcox, Scientific Assistant, Fruit- 
Disease Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
Rhizopus 2 
Type of rot induced 2 
Importance of careful handling 2 
Importance of low temperature 3 
Washing strawberries. 4 
Temperature at time of picking in rela- 
tion to decay 7 
Page. 
Botrytis 8 
Relation of Botrytis infection to mois- 
ture conditions 8 
Growth of Botrytis on strawberries un- 
der refrigeration 9 
Relation of Botrytis to infection by Rhizopus. 10 
Summary 12 
Literature cited 14 
INTRODUCTION. 
The results of the investigations of the rots of strawberry fruits 
(Fragaria sp.) made by the writers during the two years ended in the 
spring of 1917 have already been published (10 to 12). 1 Since the 
preparation of these papers the problem has been studied somewhat 
more extensively. The work for the season of 1917 included field 
investigations in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, with experimental 
shipments between Hammond, La., and Chicago during April, and 
field work in Missouri and in the region about Norfolk, Va., in May. 
Observations were also made of the fruit in the various markets, 
most of the important markets east of Minneapolis being visited at 
least once during the season. 
Through the courtesy of H. J. Ramsey and V. W. Ridley, of the 
Office of Handling and Storage Investigations of Fruits and Vege- 
tables, one of the writers was able to accompany car-lot shipments of 
strawberries from Monett, Mo., to St. Paul, Minn., in order to study 
the condition of these shipments and to include inoculated fruit in 
the cars. 
1 The serial numbers in parentheses refer to " Literature cited," at the end of this bulletin. 
52315°— 18— Bull. 686 
