A Bacterial Rot of Celery

Abstract

During the month of February, 1913, an examination was made of a number of celery plants, grown in the gardens attached to the South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of damage produced at that time of the year by the parasitic fungus Septoria Petroselini var. Apii. Some of these plants were found to be in an advanced stage of decay, the affected portions being discoloured and pulpy, and showing every evidence of a soft, brown rot. As numerous pycnidia of the fungus were to be found on most of the plants examined and as that parasite is known to continue its ravages during the winter, even when the plants are dug and placed in storage, it was thought that the Septoria was the primary cause of the damage. It was found, however, in most cases, that when the soft pulp was subjected to microscopic examination, there was no trace of either pycnidia or mycelium, while bacteria and often eelworms were swarming in such material.