Abstract
Wutte it has been known to botanists for more than twenty-five years that the potato rot is caused by the growth of a minute fungus, called by Montagne, who first described it, Botrytis, by later writers Peronospora infestans, there are certain points in the life history of this fungus which have not yet been cleared up,-points which, if answered, might suggest to the farmer a means of avoiding, to some extent, the occurrence in its worst forms of this unfortunately too common epidemic.The object of the present paper is to give to the agriculturalist a statement of the condition of our knowledge of the habits of the Peronospora infestans, its germination, growth, propagation, &c., to state the questions which science has still to answer, and the direction in which investigations will have to be made in the future, and, finally, as far as is possible, to apply the knowledge which a microscopic study of the Peronospora has given us to a consideration of the means of avoiding or diminishing the rot.It might, perhaps, seem superfluous to recount the symptoms by which the disease, the rot, manifests itself, so familiar are they to the persons into whose hands this paper is likely to fall.It makes its appearance in midsummer in our latitude, usually about the first of August, sometimes earlier, oftener a little later.At times its advent is so sudden that, within a few hours, the potato fields change from green to brown and black, and the plants which, in the morning, gave promise of an abundant crop, before night present a mass of decaying vegetation, in which are involved not only the leaves and stems, but, also, the tubers.'The disease occurred in this violent form in 1842, and again in 1845, and spread over a good part of the United States and the British Provinces, and also destroyed the crop in Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, and parts of Germany and France.The greatest injury was done 'in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ireland, owing to the fact that, in these countries, the potato was the principal crop.Since 1845, the disease has recurred, but never with such violence, although during the last year, 1874, the damage was considerable.Although public attention was first called to the .BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION.rot in 1842, it is not at all likely that it then appeared for the first time, but we must suppose that some of the vaguely described epidemies of the last century were of the same nature.It is with such sudden and violent outbreaks as those of 1842 and 1845, that in the public mind the potato rot is associated.Asa rule, however, the disease is of a milder type.Instead of a sudden destruction of the crop, there appear on the leaves and stem brown spots, which gradually extend.After a while, certain plants are found to be rotting, and this process may keep on until a whole field is involved.This case, as far as the farmer is concerned, is very different from the other, inasmuch as, having seen that some plants are rotting, he can then, by harvesting the rest, save a portion of the crop.In whichever form the rot occurs, it makes its appearance always about the same time, as before mentioned, about the first of August, and always in damp weather.There is no case reported as occurring in a dry season, and a moist condition of the atmosphere is absolutely necessary to its production to any decided extent.Damp, muggy weather is, however, quite as favorable to its development as heavy rains.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Potato rot appears around early August in the stated latitude.
- Taxon
- Potato
Solanum tuberosumt0 - Outcome
- its appearance in midsummere0
- Qualifier
- usually about the first of Auguste0
- Setting
- our latitudee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“It makes its appearance in midsummer in our latitude, usually about the first of August, sometimes earlier, oftener a little later.”
Claim · model-written summary
In severe outbreaks, potato foliage and tubers can decay within hours.
- Taxon
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumt0
- Organ / stage
- leaves and stems, but, also, the tuberse0
- Outcome
- a mass of decaying vegetatione0
- Qualifier
- within a few hourse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“within a few hours, the potato fields change from green to brown and black, and the plants which, in the morning, gave promise of an abundant crop, before night present a mass of decaying vegetation, in which are involved not only the leaves and stems, but, also, the tubers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Severe potato rot occurred in 1842 and 1845 and affected regions in North America and Europe.
- Taxon
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumt0
- Outcome
- The disease occurred in this violent forme0
- Qualifier
- in 1842, and again in 1845e0
- Setting
- United States and the British Provincese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“The disease occurred in this violent form in 1842, and again in 1845, and spread over a good part of the United States and the British Provinces, and also destroyed the crop in Great Britain, Ireland, Belgium, and parts of Germany and France.”
Claim · model-written summary
Potato rot recurred after 1845, with considerable damage in 1874 but less violence than in the earlier outbreaks.
- Taxon
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumt0
- Outcome
- the disease has recurrede0
- Qualifier
- during the last year, 1874, the damage was considerablee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“Since 1845, the disease has recurred, but never with such violence, although during the last year, 1874, the damage was considerable.”
Claim · model-written summary
In milder potato rot, brown leaf and stem spots spread and rotting can eventually involve a whole field.
- Taxon
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumt0
- Organ / stage
- leaves and steme0
- Outcome
- brown spots, which gradually extende0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“there appear on the leaves and stem brown spots, which gradually extend.After a while, certain plants are found to be rotting, and this process may keep on until a whole field is involved.”
Claim · model-written summary
Harvesting remaining potatoes after some plants show rot may save part of the crop.
- Taxon
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumt0
- Outcome
- by harvesting the rest, save a portion of the crope0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“having seen that some plants are rotting, he can then, by harvesting the rest, save a portion of the crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
Potato rot outbreaks are associated with damp weather and have not been reported in a dry season.
- Taxon
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumt0
- Outcome
- its production to any decided extente0
- Qualifier
- no case reported as occurring in a dry seasone0
- Setting
- damp weathere0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Potato Rot”
e0“always in damp weather.There is no case reported as occurring in a dry season, and a moist condition of the atmosphere is absolutely necessary to its production to any decided extent.”