ROOT ROTS OF THE RASPBERRY

Abstract

The investigations reported here are concerned with isolations from diseased raspberry roots, preliminary inoculations with isolates, and microscopic examination of naturally and artificially infected roots.The following fungi were isolated from naturally infected roots: Coniothyrium Fuckelii, Cylindrocarpon radicicola, Fusarium sp., possibly F. orthoceras, Cylindrocladium sp., Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia Solani, Rhizoctonia sp. (orchid type), and in preliminary inoculation experiments each fungus was found to be capable of producing necrotic lesions on healthy roots. Microscopic examinations of roots artificially inoculated with pure cultures of the above fungi, showed in the roots the presence of the fungus used for inoculation. In addition the "phycomycetous mycorrhizal" fungus already associated with root rot of strawberries and tobacco was observed to be almost always present in roots of affected raspberry plants, and, to a lesser extent, in apparently healthy roots from apparently normal plants. Nematodes, especially Anguillulina pratensis, the meadow nematode, were present in and on roots from certain soils, while they were absent from roots from other soils. Strawberry and raspberry seeds were sown in sterilized and non-sterilized affected soil with the result that the roots in sterilized soil appeared to be healthy, while those in the non-sterilized soil became affected with necrotic lesions.Evidence is given which shows not only that certain symptoms of raspberry root rot are similar to the symptoms of strawberry root rot, which is considered to be a major factor in the degeneration of strawberries in both Europe and America, but also that many of the fungi and nematodes generally conceded to be associated with root rots of strawberry are likewise associated with root rots of raspberry. In the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, where certain raspberry plantations appear to be heavily infected with root rots, the possibility that these root rots may play an important role in connection with the un-thriftiness of such plantations should not be overlooked.