DISEASE OF TOMATOES

Southland Times, Issue 21607, 20 January 1932, Page 10

DISEASE OF TOMATOES

RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA. Since it was demonstrated that “spotted wilt” in tomatoes is transmitted by a species of thrips, investigations in Australia have proceeded a further stage. The conclusions are summarized in a bulletin just issued by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

The authors, Messrs J. G. Bald, B.Agr.Sc., assistant plant pathologist, division of plant industry, and Geoffrey Samuel, M.Sc., plant pathologist, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, have shown that it is necessary for the adult thrips to feed on a diseased plant while in the larval stage in order to become a carrier of the disease.

The Sydney Morning Herald says:—“lt has also been ascertained that a large number of plants can be infected with spotted wilt, including tobacco and at least three species of garden flowers —Iceland poppy, nasturtium, and zinnia. There are indications that there may be several others which are able to harbour the spotted wilt virus. This is particularly important since Iceland poppies and nasturtiums are commonly grown in suburban gardens in the winter period, when tomatoes cannot be grown as an outdoor crop.

“A method of mechanical inoculation of spotted Wilt has been developed with practically 100 per cent, success. This has been found very important for the determination of virus properties, and forms a ready means of ascertaining the plants capable of being infected with the disease. “The bulletin states that work is being continued, with the co-operation of Dr Phipps, in an attempt to breed a tomato more resistant to spotted wilt, by crossing the very resistant currant tomato with commercial varieties. It is considered that the development of the mechanical inoculation may have an important influence in accelerating this work by enabling cross-breds to be tested rapidly, and in largo numbers, while still in the seedbed stage. The breeding programme, however, is one which must necessarily extend over a number of years.”