October, ’23] 
turner: kernel spot on pecan 
443 
to show the condition of the shells and kernels. At harvest time all 
nuts were gathered and examined. 
The following table gives a resume of the results obtained in this ex¬ 
periment. The actual dates given in the table are only of general im¬ 
portance. These would vary in any one year, according to the variety 
under observation, since the ripening period varies considerably with 
different varieties. The time would also vary from year to year ac¬ 
cording to seasonal variations. The stages of growth and maturity of 
the nuts, as indicated by the photographs, give an index which will hold 
true for all varieties and all seasons. 
Table I 
Series 
Cages 
Date 
No. Nuts 
Results 
I 
1-10 
8/21-9/1 
24 
All nuts dropped off; no spots. 
II 
11-20 
9/1-9/11 
23 
All but five nuts dropped; all show spots 
III 
21-30 
9/11-9/20 
22 
All kernels had spots; total of 117 spots. 
IV 
31-40 
9/20-10/4 
21 
All kernels had spots; total of 187 spots 
V 
41-50 
10/4-10/12 
26 
13 nuts with spots (50%); total 83 spots 
VI 
51-60 
10/12-10/19 
29 
1 nut with spot; 1 spot. 
Check 
61-100 
Harvest 
136 
No soot. 
In studying this table it is necessary to correlate the results with the 
condition of the nuts. These are shown in plate 6. In series I all nuts 
dropped from the stems. This is clearly due to the insect attack in 
that none of the nuts in the check cages dropped. An examination of 
these nuts after they had been off the tree for seme ten days did not 
reveal any evidence of kernel spot whatever. Plate 6, fig. 3 shows the 
condition cf the nuts at the beginning of this period and figure 4 that at 
the end. It will be noted that the true condition for our consideration 
is most nearly like that in figure 3, in as much as the nuts all dropped 
within five days of the time when the insects were introduced. At that 
time the shell was still very soft and thin. The skin of the kernel was 
formed, but none of the meat, this still being in liquid condition A Asa 
result of this condition there was nothing in the kernel in which a spot 
could form. 
In the second series 18 out of 25 nuts dropped (72%). All of these, 
together with the nuts which remained on the tree, developed spots. 
Figs. 4 and 5 on plate 6 show the condition of the nuts at the beginning 
and end of this period. In figure 4, the kernels have begun to form on 
the inside of the skins. At the end of the period a very marked develop¬ 
ment has taken place altho the kernels are still far frem plump. Through- 
