Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. V,No .4 
182 
At the time the above series were being run, five series of similar 
inoculations were made with a pure culture of Alternaria panax , the 
necessary checks for each series being used. One hundred per cent of 
infection was obtained with this fungus, the symptoms and lesions 
resulting from the inoculation being in every case similar to and indis¬ 
tinguishable from those obtained with the Altemaria-like fungus. 
Plate XIII, figure 1, shows a longitudinal section through one inoculated 
root. . 
In order to test further the pathogenicity of these fungi and to confirm 
their identity, inoculations were made directly in the soil on roots to 
which the tops were still attached. Six series were made with the 
Altemaria-like fungus and five with Alternaria panax . The soil was 
removed from around the crown of the roots and an incision was made 
in the crown. Into this incision was placed the inoculating material 
from pure cultures of the two fungi. Ninety-two per cent of infection 
resulted from the Altemaria-like fungus and eighty-five per cent from 
Alternaria panax. The symptoms and lesions were again characteristic 
and similar in each case. 
Further inoculations were made on the tops by inoculating the leaves 
with mycelium from pure cultures of both fungi. For some unexplain¬ 
able reason, or owing to the plants having been sprayed with Bordeaux 
mixture, no definite results were secured during the summer of 1913. In 
June, 1914, the work was repeated. Typical leaf-spots of Alternaria 
panax were produced in abundance with both fungi. Plate XIII, figure 2 , 
is a reproduction of a photograph of the lesions produced on ginseng leaves 
with the species of Alternaria isolated from roots. Spores from these 
spots were secured and examined. No differences could be noted. 
Reisolations were made from the inoculated roots and leaves, and a 
fungu9 identical with the original one used for inoculating was obtained. 
Numerous attempts to produce infection on the roots without pre¬ 
viously injuring them gave only negative results. 
Inasmuch as these fungi show no cultural differences and as both are 
able to infect the leaves and roots of the ginseng plant, the only conclu¬ 
sion warranted by the data at our disposal is that they are identical. 
This being the case, the blight problem confronting the ginseng grower 
becomes more complicated. Heretofore it has not been supposed that 
Alternaria panax is able to cause a rot of the root. 
The above facts warrant the ginseng grower in taking other means 
besides spraying in the control of this disease. The means recommended, 
in addition to spraying, are (1) care in transplanting so as to injure the 
roots as little as possible, (2) the removal of all tops and stems in the 
fall, and (3) where the crowns of the roots are sufficiently deep below the 
surface of the soil, burning over the surface of the bed with a thin layer 
of straw after the tops have been removed. 
