The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-22
BURNING REMEDY FOR NEW
DISEASE ON CASTOR BEANS
unclassified Fungus Growth Appears
On Plants With Deadly Effect
Use of Bordeaux also
~ Recommended

Burning affected fruit heads is the
remedy suggested by the University
of Florida Agricultural experiment
station as a remedy for the gray mold
of castor beans where the disease is
just appearing.
Where it is developed there is not
much hope Of controlling it.
This information is given in a
bulletin of the experiment station
which says:
"A fungus disease that has an.
peared on the castor bean within the
last two weeks is causing serious in.
jury to the crop in many regions of
the state. 1t is gray mold that at.
tacks the fruit spikes in various
stages Of development. The unop.
ened flower buds, flowers and nearly
mature pods are attacked by the fun
gus. In some cases from so to 30
per cent. of the plants ina field are
afected with the disease. Rain and
shady conditions seem to favor a ran.
i'd spread Of this mold.
This disease is at once recognized
by the grayish, webby mass of fungus
growth on the affected heads. In
well developed cases from one-half
to three-fourths of the affected head
will be envelopd by gray, webby
mass more or less powdery in an.
pearance. Pods and flowers in a
head that are killed by the fungus
become brown and covered with a
dusty, powdery mass which con.
talns countless numbers of spores.
The disease appears to start at one
point and spreads rapidly until the
entire head is affected. The fungus
also attacks the stem Of the fruit
spike and flower stems, causing at
flrst dark, watery rot The affected
part soon dies, turns brown and be.
comes dry.
Starts With Dark Spot
THE first appearance Of the dis
ease is marked by dark colored spot
or stain usually on one or more ad.
Jacent pods. This spotting some
times appears first on the stem of the
fruit spike or on the pod stems. The
tissue is found to be rotted
ana watery. No fungus growth is
visible at this stage, and the remain.
der OF the pods or heads appear green
and normal. Three or four DAYS
later a fourth or half of the head
may be enveloped with a grayish
growth, and all parts covered by the
fungus are killed.
THE disease is caused by a fungus
which appears to be new species
OF Botrytis. Specimens were sent
to Mrs. F. w, Patterson, bureau of
Plant industry, U. s. d. A., who re-
ports the fungus as an undescribed
species of Botrytis. Very little is
known of its habits at present and
It does not appear to have been re-
ported on the castor bean before
Under moist conditions the fungus
produces spores (seed) in countless
numbers in the webby growth enyel. |
'ping the affected heads. These are
steadily scattered by the wind and
Insects and infects other fruit heads.
Develops Best In Shade
The fungus is very active under
moist, shady conditions and during
periods of rain and cloudy weather
may become very destructive. es-
oecially where beans are closely
Wanted and are making vigorous
,rowth.
THE rapidity with which this fun.
JUS has developed and spread within
ne last two weeks, and the nature
u the castor bean plant, offer little
Encouragement for an easy method
4 control. Where it is widely scat.
cred through field very little can
e done to protect the fruit heads
hat may develop during the rainy .
eason. After the dry season comes
n the disease will probably cause 4,
mall loss.
Use Bordeaux Mixture
In fields where the disease is lust
ppearing and only small number
heads are affected, further loss
lay be prevented if immediate stems
re taken to suppress it. All affected
'uit heads should be cut off and mt
irectly into pals of kerosene and !.