An introduction to bacterial diseases of plants

Front matter

Class jS3_7a1± Book . o 4^ CopyiighlN^

COF»«IGHT DEPOSm

AN INTRODUCTION TO

Preface

The manuscript of this book was completed for publication in 1915 and, in general, that year may be taken as the date of the outlook, but here and there, where it seemed most necessary, it has been revised down to the end of 1919.

Those who seek for completeness in these pages will not find it. The book is in no senes a monograph, but only, as its title indicates, an introduction to the subject.

While the book has been made primarily for laboratory use under the guidance of a competent teacher, who will add to it or subtract from it as he desires, it is believed that many persons not students may find in it various things of interest, and partly with this wider public in view it has been illustrated very fully.

This book is the result of 35 years of reading and 25 years of diligent laboratory and field investigation. More than most books, it is the product of experiment. There is scarcely a line or a statement in it that has not recjuired more than one experiment. It is also largely the product of a single laboratory, that is to say, 8 of the 14 organisms here selected for special study were named by the writer (one with a colleague), two were worked out by others in his laboratory (Bacillus carotovorus and Bacterium maculicolwm) , and of the remaining four, all of Appel's statements have been verified with additions under Bacillus phyiophihorus, many additions have been made to Pammel's statements under Bacterium campestre, the entire body of description has been worked up for Bacterium mori, and some additions have been made to Bacillus amylovorus. Moreover, all but 35 of the 650 illustrations are from this laboratory.

A majority of the photographs in the book were made by James F. Brewer and the remainder by the writer. Frequently we worked together. In case of particularly good

VI PREFACE

photographs involving special technic I have sometimes mentioned the maker and the method used, since every student should learn to make his own photographs and photomicrographs if he wishes to excel. Nearly all the photomicrographs were made on the little upright stand (Fig. 55) because I wished to demonstrate to the student that excellent results can be obtained with very simple apparatus if one is only willing to take pains.

The book was written at the earnest request of teachers and by their judgment it will stand or fall. It is the first treatise of its kind in the world and, therefore, I trust, that evidences of crudity will be excused. Not being a teacher, I have been in doubt many times how best to present the difficult subject.

I shall be glad to receive criticisms and suggestions looking toward a second edition and also notes, photographs, cultures, fresh and dry specimens and separates of papers from all parts of the world, that I may be able to continue my monographic studies.

Erwin F. Smith.

Washington, D. C, August, 1920.

Part I A Conspectus Of Bacterial Diseases Of Plants

Page

Distribution Among Flowering Plants 4

Period of Greatest Susceptibility 8

What Governs Infection 12

How Infection Occurs 15

Time Between Infection and Appearance OF the Disease 16

Recovery from Disease 17

Agents of Transmission 19

Extra-vegetal Habitat of the Parasites 34

Morphology and Cultural Characters of the Parasites 35

Action of the Parasite on the Plant 41

Reaction of the Plant — Color-changes, Blights, Decays, Distortions,

Overgrowths 48

Prevalence and Geographical Distribution 51

Methods of Control 68

PART II METHODS OF RESEARCH Reference Books 76

Apparatus 77

For Preparation of Culture Media 77

For Isolation and Care of Cultures 80

For Preparation and Study of Sections 81

For the Hot House and Inoculation Experiments 86

For the Photographic Room 89

Uses of Culture Media 99

Preparation of Culture-Media 100

Technic of Isolation 107

Care of Cultures 109

Study of Cultures 110

Methods of Inoculation Ill

Time and Place of Inoculation 112

Care of Inoculated and Control Plants 113

Preparation of Sections 114

Vlll CONTENTS

Page

Staining Methods 116

Care of Specimens 119

Preparation of Illustrations 120

Photographs 120

Photomiciographs 123

Lumiere Plates 126

Planars 126

Drawings 126

Paintings 129

Card Catalogies and Systems of Filing 130

Part III Synopsis Of Selected Diseases

I. The Cucurbit Wilt 132

Type 132

Cause — Bacillus tracheiphilus EFS 132

Transmisi-ion 141

II. Black Rot of Crucifers 145

Type 145

Cause—Bacterium campestre (Pammel) EFS 147

Means of Prevention 159

III. Stewart's Disease of Maize 160

Type 160

CONTENTS IX

Page

Cause — Aplanobader s^fu'arfi (EFS.) McCulloch 161

Re&ponse to Non-nutiitional Enviionment 168

Means of Prevention 176

IV. The Brown Rot of Solanaceae 177

Type 177

Cause — Bacterium aolanacenrum EFS 182

Cultural Chaiacters 193

V. Bacterial Canker of Tomato 202

Type 202

Cause — Aplanobader luichiganense EFS 205

Deteimine 212

Moiphology 212

Cultural Chaiacteis 213

Host Plants 219

VL Jones' Soft Rot of Carrot, Etc 223

Type 223

Cause — Bacillus carotoi'orus L. R. Jones 230

X CONTENTS

Page

Vai lability 251

Vll. Bacterial Black Rot of the Potato 253

Type 253

Cause — Bacillus phytophthorus Otto Appel 257

Moiphology 268

Cultural Chaiacteis 269

Response to Non-nutrituonal Environment 272

Vm. The Bean Blight 280

Type 280

Cause — Bacterium phaseoli EFS 285

IX. McCulloch's Cauliflower Spot 300

Type 300

Cause — Bacterium maculicoluni Lucia McCuUoch 304

CONTENTS XI

Page

X. The Angular Leaf Spot OF Cotton 314

Type 314

Cause — Bacterium malvacearum EFS i . 321

XL The Mulberry Blight 340

Type 340

Cause — Bacterium mori Boyer and Lambeit emend. EFS 342

Moiphology 354

Cultural Characterfe 354

Respoase to Non-nutritional Environment 355

XII. Fire-blight of Apple, Pear, Quince, Etc 359

Type 359

Cause — Bacillus amylovorus (T. J. Burrili) Trevisan 367

Xll CONTENTS

Page

Vaiiability 383

Eradication of the Disease 385

XIII. The Olive Tubercle 389

Type 389

Cause — Bacterium savastanoi EFS 391

Cultuial Characters 407

Response to Non-nutiitional Environment 409

XIV. The Crown Gall 413

Type 413

Cause — Bacterium tumefaciens Smith and Townsend 421

For the Oiganism 451

Response to Non-nutiitional Environment 457

Part IV Miscellaneous

I. Notes on Some ADDnioNAL Diseases 473

II. Suggestion op Subjects for Special Study : , . . . 474

III. Production of Tumors in the Absence op Parasites 477

IV. Speculations on the Chemical and Physical Stimuli Underlying

TUMOR-FORMATION 510

V. On The Production of Teratosis in the Absence of Tumors and

OF Parasites 574

CONTENTS Xlll