SCIENCE OF MYCOLOGY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 125, 8 March 1930, Page 7

SCIENCE OF MYCOLOGY

VALUE OF AGRICULTURE. THE ECONOMY ASPECT. This Cinderella of the Sciences of living things—relating to the fungi, yeasts and allied organisms—lias received the importance it deserves only since the middle of last century, when the calamity of the potato blight drew attention to the .potential damage which may be caused by such organisms. , . . The fungi—the group to which attention Is confined here—-unlike most animals and plants specialise in dependence. Everyone of the multitude of species is saprophytic—living on read animal or vegetable matter, or parasitic—living on live things. On the whole it may be said that the fungi are malignant to man. This is chiefly true of the parasitic forms which cause terrible destruction! among cultivated plants. A yearly toll of enormous damage is o.aeted by the rust, smut, and bunt of wheat, smut ol barley, diseases of potatoes, turnips, sugar-cane, cocoa, cotton and rubber, tea, and a multitude of other plants of economic importance. It is true that saprophytic forms help as Nature s undertakers in the decay and disintegration of dead things, and even give us edible fruit such as mushrooms. But even the saprophytes may be troublesome, as for instance the dry-rot in timber and the moulds which spoil food.

Means of Control or Elimination. As a result of intensive research in lecent years, the urgent necessity for means of control or elimination ol harmful fungi, has at last become realised and has led to the establishment or mvchologists and plant pathologists, all over the world, and particularly in Empire countries. In New Zealand attention was first given to the general problem by Kirk and Cockayne, but it was not until post-war days that Cunningham was appointed as first Government Mycologist. His efforts have been directed towards making a census of the fungous flora of the Dominion in addition to the important work of elimination of damage to crops of economic importance. Much of the research work in the Dominion has already been successful. This is particularly sso in the case of malting barley which has been rendered practically smut-free. Encouraging results have been 'obtained in the selection of disease-free commercial lines of potatoes. Intensive work is in progress on turnips, peas, lucerne and other commercial crops. Plant Research Station.

The need for research on a larger and more intensive scale lias recently been evidenced by the establishment of a plant research station at Palmerston North where a team of enthusiastic and experienced investigators has been concentrated. Realisation of the potential value ol New Zealand as a seed producing country has at last been awakened. But seed production means elimination ol diseases amenable to control and the .selection of disease-free hues which must be undertaken in co-operation with the mycologist. Take for example the invaluable supplementary farm crop—turnips. At present it has not been possible to import disease-free seed, with the result that enormous annual loss occurs from drv rot. If disease-free seed can be grown in New Zealand, it would mean elimination of this loss and also the local production of seed hitherto imported. , ... Too little attention has been paid in the oast to the potential damage caused bv fungi and allied organisms to milk, cheese, butter, etc., although due weight must be given to damage by bacteria, there is evidence that fungi are even more harmful. When it is realised that fungal snores are very largely air-borne it is obvious that infection of the buildings, plant, and raw materials is simple. There is enormous scope for research in this direction, which affords a new field and from the present evidence it seems likelv that air filtration, regular disinfection of building and plant, will become routine operations in the dairy factory. / Empire Co-cperation. In the Dominion, Colonies and Protectorates comprising the Empire overseas, it is not surprising to find that over 100 mycologists and plant pathologists are at work. This development has only taken, nlace since about the beginning of this century and has resulted from the enormous development in demand for agricultural products. Their primary duty is to safeguard the health of crops by the control ol plant diseases. The desire for general co-operation bv pooling knowledge and resources and the necessity for team and,collaborative work rather than isolated effort, culminated in the setting up *>f the Imperial Bureau of Mycology in 'London under the inspired leadership of Dr. E. -T. Butler. E.R.S. This organisation has proved of immense value not onlv to the Empire but to the whole world. Results so far achieved give promise of bigger things. The hope that New Zealand will produce seed for most of her commercial crops including cereals, roots and herbage plants is likely to fructify. The possibility that she will become a great seed exporting country is becoming a probability. _ Benefits from research in this fascinating realm are likelv to extend to the dairy and fruit industries. And thus the newer knowledge ol science aonlicd ceaselessly, patiently, without fuss, is bringing a rich harvest to all at an infinitesimal cost.