JOERNALOFACRICULTUBALRESEARCH 
Vol. XXIII Washington, D. C., January 6, 1923 No. 1 
A PHYTOPHTHORA FOOTROT OF RHUBARB 1 
By George H. Godfrey 
Pathologist, Office of Cotton, Truck, and Forage Crop Disease Investigations , Bureau of 
Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture 
INTRODUCTION 
Rhubarb footrot is a parasitic fungous disease which manifests 
itself by a wilting of the leaves, followed shortly after by their collapse 
at the base of the petioles and the rapid death and decay of the whole 
plant. It is caused by a species of Phytophthora heretofore unreported 
in connection with this crop. The disease was first brought to the 
writer's attention in July, 1917, when a report was received in the Office 
of Cotton, Truck, and Forage Crop Disease Investigations, of the Bureau 
of Plant Industry, of a disease of rhubarb in a garden in Brookland, D. C., 
which was killing out the rhubarb plants. Soon afterwards other 
reports from different points in the District were received. A survey 
of the environs of Washington showed that the trouble was rather wide¬ 
spread. 
DISTRIBUTION AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 
Inasmuch as this disease has not yet been reported on rhubarb and 
is not widely known among the plant pathologists of the country, only 
a very incomplete account of its distribution can be given at this time. 
Furthermore, some of the citations given are necessarily based upon 
inaccurate identifications, as will be seen, and must serve rather as an 
indication of localities where the disease may be found than as reliable 
data on distribution. Owing to a change of duties it has become neces¬ 
sary to submit for publication results as they stand without carrying 
to a satisfactory conclusion some of the doubtful phases of the investi¬ 
gation. 
The disease was observed repeatedly by the writer during 1917 and 
subsequently in various gardens in the District of Columbia and in 
neighboring Maryland and Virginia. One newly planted field was seen 
that was almost entirely killed out. Numerous reports of the dying out 
of rhubarb plants in this same locality, particularly in small gardens, 
have also been received, and from the descriptions given, either orally 
or in writing, it would seem that the cause has been the same as in the 
cases personally studied. Letters and diseased specimens also were 
received from more distant points. On September 5, 1917, a specimen 
was received from Harrisburg, Pa., which was similar in appearance to 
the Phytophthora footrot familiar to the writer, and which was found 
to contain in affected parts hyphae of Phytophthora. While the fungus 
Accepted for publication July 2, 1921. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Washington, D. C. 
aat 
Vol. XXIII, No. 1 
Tan. 6, 1923 
Key No. C-259 
20516—23-1 
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