Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


as pink rot. It is also known to attack a large number of the
other common truck crops grown in the state.
 The white cottony growth on the main stem is typical of the
disease in its early development. Later large irregular black
sclerotia are formed either imbedded in the tissue or clinging to
the outside of the stem among the dense mycelia. These sclerotia
tide the fungus over unfavorable periods of the year and when
conditions are again favorable for its growth they germinate,
produce spores and spread the fungus over large areas.
 Description: The plants are attacked near or at the soil line.
At first there is very little effect shown on the plant even though
the white growth of the fungus is conspicuously evident. Grad-
ually the stem begins to turn yellow and shrivel. The decay is
comparatively dry. The softer tissue is rapidly disintegrated,
 leaving only the vascular
 tissue (veins) connecting
 the roots and top. (Fig. 25.)
 The plant soon dies after
 this stage is reached. When
 the parasite attacks the
 fruit a soft waterly rot is
 S3produced that involves the
 whole fruit in a very short
 time. This condition of the
 product in transit is readily
 detected because of the
 leaking container.

 I Control: There is no in-
 expensive way to control
 S stem rot in the field. The
 best way to combat it is to
 rotate the crop, growing a
 field or forage crop on the
 land for two or three years
 ..- before planting cucumbers
 ** on it again. If the disease
 / occurs in the greenhouse
 it would be necessary to
Fig. 25. Stem rot of cucumbers on ma- sterilize the soil with for-
 ture plants.