BACTERIAL WILT OF CASTOR BEAN (RICINUS COM¬ 
MUNIS L.) 
By Erwin F. Smith, Pathologist in Charge , Laboratory of Plant Pathology , and G. H. 
Godfrey, Pathologist, Office of Cotton, Truck, and Forage Crop Disease Investiga¬ 
tions, Bureau of Plant Industry , United States Department of Agriculture 1 
HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION 
The bacterial wilt of castor beans was first brought to the attention, 
of the writers in May, 1918, when specimens of diseased plants were 
received from Townsend, Ga., where they were collected by Mr. I. C. 
Jagger. Isolations made from this material were used immediately for 
cultural studies and for numerous inoculations as already reported. 2 
Soon after the first observation of the disease in the field, by direction 
of the Office of Cotton, Truck, and Forage Crop Disease Investigations, 
a survey was undertaken by Mr. Jagger of castor bean plantings in the 
South, particularly in Florida. The survey extended over a period of 
about two weeks and covered practically all sections of the State of 
Florida. In addition, reports of the occurrence of the disease were 
received from other men in Florida and other States. 
The disease occurred at or near the following points in Florida: Monti- 
cello, Jacksonville, St. Leo, Ocala, Orlando, Plant City, Tampa, Lucerne 
Park, Winter Haven, Mulberry, Fort Meade, and Frostproof; at Town¬ 
send, Ga.; and at Dothan, Ala. The loss varied considerably in these 
localities, very exceptionally exceeding 10 per cent and varying from 
that down to zero. The highest reported loss was 30 per cent in a 
field in southern Georgia. 3 
On a trip made by the junior author early in August, freshly wilted 
plants were still to be found in the fields. During this survey the wilt 
was observed definitely at Orlando, Tampa, Seffner, and Fort Meade, 
Fla., and at Dothan, Ala. It is very likely that the disease occurred 
also in North and South Carolina and in Mississippi. The descriptions 
given by farmers of an early disease on the plants indicated this, but 
no authentic material was received. 
A thorough search by both Mr. Jagger and the junior writer at differ¬ 
ent times among the heavy plantings along the east coast of Florida, 
from Miami to New Smyrna, failed to show the disease to be present. 
These observations were made at Miami, Little River, Arch Creek, 
Davie, West Palm Beach, Vero, Deer Park, Melbourne, Titusville, 
Mims, and New Smyrna. 
1 The field observations on this disease were wholly in the hands of Mr. Godfrey. The identification 
of the organism was made by the senior writer, and the inoculations were under his direction. . 
* Smith, Erwin E., and Godfrey, G. H. brown rot of solanacBaE on rionus. In Science, n. s. 
v. 48, no. 1228, p. 42. 1918. 
3 Reported by Mr. T. B. Young, of the Office of Drug Plant Investigations. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. XXI, No. 4 
Washington, D. C. May 16, 19 « 
xw Key No. G-33a 
(25s) 
