The Globe-republican., 1901-07-04
Root Rot of Fruit Trees

Root Rot of Fruit Trees.
The Oklahoma Experiment Station
has published bulletin summarizing
an Investigation OF a serious root-rot
disease which is destroying mxny fruit
trees in the orchards of the territory
The disease has been noticed in many
localities and seems to be confined to
lands that have been cleared of timber
before planting to trees
The symptoms of this disease are so
characteristic that no one should expe-
rience any great difficulty in correctly
diagnosing any suspected cases Per
haps the most Characteristic effect OF
the attacks of this fungus is the great
emulation of gum about and from the
crown of the diseased trees This flow
of gum occurs IN maple. peach and
cherry trees and is reported for the
apricot tree. 1t frequently happens
tnat the amount of this gum to exude
is SO great that it unites with the soil
about the base of the tree to such an
extent to form a of cemented
soil about the tree. In many cases this
mass of gum cemented soil will be-
come hardened to form a sort of cast
about the crown and larger roots of
the tree.
The yellow celebration OF the leaves
is usually one of the prominent Symp-
toms of the disease. In many cases,
however, the leaves wilt rapidly dur
coming yellow. This rapid whiting OF
leaves is the first external evidence af-
fOrded that the root system of the tree
and consequently its absorptlve ability
have been greatly reduced. The groups
of mushrooms found about the base of
the trees will afford the most positive
evidence of the presence of this dis
ease. But unfortunately this evidence
comes too late for the application Of
any remedial agent; for the mush-
rooms seldom appear about the crown
~ fev.
progressed that no preventive or rene
dial measures can be applied
The fungus of this type is we'll pro
vided with means to insure its rapid
distribution throughout large or
chards- The spores, that are pro-
dueed in such large numbers, are
may, under proper conditions, give
rise to a mycelium and the typical
sporophores. Perhaps the beetles that
are often seen eating the old pllei are
of value in distributing the
spores, but this point needs some fur
Tier investigation The greater part OF
remedial measures to be applied
against this and other wood destroy
ing fungi is derived from the wide ex-
perience of the fores,ers of Europe.
Among the strictly remedial measures
none are OF greater Importance than
the isolation Of diseased trees by ditch
the orchard is found to be diseased,
ditch should at once be dug around it
to prevent if possible the further
spread of the disease by the subterra-
mean myceIial strands This ditch
should be dug at a distance of about
ten feet from the tree, i. e., with a di-
ameter of about twenty feet. The
ditch should be about one foot wide
and about two feet deep with vertical
walls. The same measures are to be
adopted to protect a group Of disease
trees that are found in the orchard
In this case the ditch may be dug so
to include all the trees in the
group. It is possible that the burning
of brush in this ditch will kill the
rhizomorphic strands and prevent fur
Their spreading. So far the author
is aware this method has never been
practiced to any great extent in Amer
lea though in Europe it seems to have
proven effective in combating this and
similar diseases
It cannot too strongly be insisted
upon that all fruit trees that are found
to be diseased should at once be
moved from the orchard. Care must
be taken in such cases to remove and
burn not only the trunk but all the
larger roots and especially all those
diseased. Perhaps a. tree will bear
salable fruit after the mycelium of
this fungus has entered its root sys-
tenn, but it is near sighted system
and poor business to allow such tree
to stand when it is remembered that
thereby all the other trees in the or
chard are being endangered.
Too great care cannot be taken to
avoid cutting or otherwise injuring the
roots or the trees by plOW1nS or other
cultivation. Though the mycelium of
this fungus is able to enter the cortex
of perfectly healthy roots, yet it's prog
ress as well as it's entrance is greatly
Facilitated by wounds of any charac-
ter. In one of the orchards visited by
me last fall 1t was apparent that in
some cases the mycelium of this fun
gus had first entered the roots through
wounds made by the pillow in cultivat-
ing between the rows.
Attention has frequently been called
to practice among some fruit grow
ers of placing in the bottom of hole,
in which they are about to set a tree,
quantity of chips from their wood
pile In many of these chips there are
sure to be found some of the myceIium
of this fungus and the introduction OF
the disease into the orchard is the re-
suit of this practice in many cases.
For it is a wel1-known fact that each
small piece of mycelium of this fun
iS rra1 hi of rcrr, aiy9iY1 dor