The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-12
ENEMY OF
WATERMELOES,
A DEADLY FUNGUS THAT AT
TACKS AT THE ROOT.
Mr.. Lykcs, or Richland. Has the Dis
ease Explained by Patholo2ist ~.
Smith.

Mr.. VIM. Lykes, of Richland county,
who grows fine watermelons, sent to
the agricultural department some
vines that haG died without apparent
cause. a section of his melon field
was attacked and its obstruction threat
ened. The following reply from
Pathologist Smith will be of interest
{ o all melon-growers, as we'll as other
farmers:
U. S. Department Of Agriculture,
Division of Vegetable Physiology and
Pathology,
Washington, ID. c., May 27, 1896.
Mr.. w. Lykes, Lykesland, S. c.:
Dear Sir: Your letter of May "a,
together with the package of diseased
melon vines, reached the department
today and have been referred to me for
attention. Your trouble is not due
to any insect enemies nor to tho ferti-
lizers which you applied, that is, not
to them AS fertilizers, although in
advertently think they are probably
resi- o1sible for the wide prevalence of
the disease.
presence of n fungus which is only too
we'll known to me. This fungus was
very abundant i'll the plant You sent,
but we'll hidden out of sight. Its
method of attack is to enter the plant
under ground through the root system,
from which it often extends into all
parts of the stem, occupying the long
tubular cavities of the stem known
botanically rs water ducts. The melon
vines and similar plants, as you
may know, are provided with an
elaborate system of water pipes for con-
veying water and nutrient substances
from the soil to all parts of the vines.
These begin as tiny tubes in the small
est roots and unite into bundles
of larger tubes, traversing the
larger roots and the stem and main
branches, and these bundles of tubes
gave oil hero and there branches, which
pass into the leaves flowers and fruit.
The minutest ramitications of these
water ducts in the leaves are common
ly known as veins. AS have already
intimated, these tubes are for long dis
tnnce open passaSeways from one part
of the vine to the other. Now the
cause of the sudden wilt of the vines in
whole or in part is due to the occupa-
ton and clogging of those water con-
ducting tubes by the little fungus,
which finds therein sufficient food for
its growth.
In the vines you sent the water tubes
Of the root systems arc the only ones
which were seriously clogged, but in
vines which are more severely wilted
it is customary to find tho fungus also
abundant in the water ducts of the
parts above ground. The reason for
one branch of the vine often willing
before another is because the fungus
has penetrated into the root system of
that side OF the vine and clogged the
pipes III connection with that part.
Later on it grows through from one
bundle OF tubes to another. and in this
way n second batch will become affect
ed, and so on until the whole vine is
wllted. The reason one zine in hill
Is sometimes taken and another left is
due to some reason not yet known to
ls, or because one pant Is more sus-
ceptiblc to the disease than another,
that is, the fungus gains entrance to
or weeks In advance ot it's entrance in
to the other have seen this disease
IN n number of locations in the South,
notably at Monetta and Charleston, 5.
G., and have received plenty Of mater
ial from Georgia and Texas. 1t is n
widespread disease in the melon grow
ing regions of the South. 1t is also a
serious trouble and one with which it
is exceedingly difficult to deal.
So far there is no known remedy,
and owing to the fact that the disease
attacks the vines, us far as we know,
always from under ground, you will
see how difficult the problem of treat
ment becomes 1 have this year under
wayin the South, experiments in the
way OF soil fungicides, but it is yet
too early to know whether there will
be any definite results therefrom.
The main efforts plainly should be
directed towards prevention. If I
could known beforehand what you
were going to do l think could have
prevented your loss largely or entirely.
This brings us back again to the
question of sowing tares. / have been
engaged in studying this disease for
two years and have learned quite a
good deal about the life history of the
fungus. 1t is very resistent to drying
and to various paisons. 1. has, in my
experience, retrinel its vitality for a
year in dry condition in the labora-
tory. 1t is also capaple of growing
quite vigorously on or in great vari-
ETY. OF deal substances. Itl.ves for
long time in the interior of the dead
melon stems, probably for at least six
months. 1t will also grow vigorously
in duAg hills. When q melon vine
containing this fungus is thrown on