RESEARCH NEEDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20234, 19 February 1934, Page 9

RESEARCH NEEDED.

Diseases of Strawberries and Tomatoes. There was a large attendance at the monthly meeting of the Christchurch Tomato and Stone-Fruit Growers’ Association on Saturday night, when Mr J. W. Calder, mycologist of Lincoln College, gave an interesting talk on diseases affecting strawberry and tomato plants. The president, Mr H. T. Falla, in welcoming the “speaker, said that Mr Calder had spent a great deal of time inspecting affected plants, and was surprised at the amount of damage done by disease Mr Calder said that the first thing he noticed about the disease on the strawberry plants was that it made them look as though they were blighted. The disease affected plants in both dry and damp ground, so that evidently it was due to something in the soil. It had the appearance of diseases known in many different countries. The first investigation of these had been carried out in Scotland in 1925. Since then many other investigations had been made and thirteen different fungi had been traced. It was thought that a virus, or some physical or chemical condition, weakened the plant, which was subsequently attacked by fungi. A virus was in the nature of a poison, spreading very easily, and great precaution was necessary to guard against it. It had been found that some virus was killed at 110 degrees Fahrenheit and some at 200 degrees. Therefore, if a plant -was immersed in water at 110 degrees, some of the virus should be killed. This was a possible method of attack. A great deal had yet to be learned about the disease and some time would be reqtiired before effectual methods of controlling it were discovered. Research Work Necessary. Whether it was a virus or a fungus he did not know, but he hoped to continue his research work on the plants of Canterbury. However, he knew that the disease was inside the stems and roots, so that burning off the tops, as practised by some growers, would not destroy the disease. Mr Calder also gave a brief outline of diseases affecting tomato plants. These were caused by virus. lie suggested remedies for various diseases. The speaker, who answered many questions, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.