BROWN ROOT ROT OF TOMATOES

Tomato roots with brown root rot showed three types of lesion: cortical rot of fine roots, 'corky root', and basal stem rot. The fungi most commonly isocated from diseased roots were: Colletotrichum atramentarium, Chaetomium spp., Cephalosporium spp., Volutella ciliata , and a grey mycelial fungus sometimes producing pycnidia ( Pyrenochaeta sp.). Other fungi isocated less frequently were: Myrothecium roridum, Petriella asymmetrica, Trichoderma airide, Phytophthora spp., Alternaria sp. and Fusarium spp. There were differences between the numbers of each species isocated from the three types of lesion in steamed and in unsteamed soils, and some seasonal variation.
Inoculation experiments with seedlings in vitro showed that Ckaetomium cochliodes and Petriella asymmetrica could infect radicles. On older plants growing in soil Colletotrichum atramentarium was the only effective pathogen. Culture filtrates from C. atramentarium, Chaetomium cochliodes , and P. asymmetrica decreased root growth when tested in vitro. Leachates from loam and a loam-manure mixture decreased the growth of tomato root-tip cultures; the effect of these leachates was altered by autoclaving.     

Growth of14C-labelled starch granules in potato tubers as revealed by autoradiographs

Summary Experiments have been presented which indicate that the layers of potato starch granules are built up by a gradual process of apposition. This process is dependent upon the supply of carbohydrates to the amyloplasts. The stripping film technique has made it possible for the first time to make starch granule growth more directly visible.     

NEWS AND NOTES

In an investigation of relationships between ovarian function and thyroid function, three groups of ten women each were studied by means of radioactive iodine uptake. In the first group no significant changes were noted during normal menstrual cycles.The second group, women who had dysfunctional uterine bleeding and were under treatment with diethylstilbestrol, most of the patients had no significant change in the uptake of radioactive iodine. Three patients did show a small increase in the uptake. (A fourth patient had a very bizarre result with a very great increase in the uptake, but it is felt that some undetected error was involved.)The third group was made up of women without evident ovarian function. Under treatment with diethylstilbestrol one patient showed a small increase in iodine uptake. The other nine had no significant change.No convincing evidence was found of any change in thyroid function as measured by the uptake of radioactive iodine—either during normal menstrual cycles or following the administration of diethylstilbestrol in dosages of 3 mg. daily for two to three weeks.     

COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING SUBTOTAL GASTRECTOMY

Four hundred consecutive cases in which subtotal gastrectomy was done for duodenal and gastric ulcer were reviewed. The mortality rate was 3.5 per cent. There were 57 complications, an incidence of 14 per cent. Of the fatal complications, duodenal stump disruption was the most common and serious—11 cases and 7 deaths. The other fatal complications included various types of obstruction, pulmonary embolus, hemorrhagic pancreatitis and separation of the abdominal incision. Of the nonfatal complications, obstruction of the stoma, anastomotic bleeding, pneumonia, venous thrombosis and wound infection were the most common.Catheter duodenostomy is helpful in the closure of a difficult duodenal stump. Where this was done in the present series there were no fatalities.Electrolyte balance, correction of protein deficiencies, blood replacement and the judicious use of antibiotics are important prophylactic factors against postoperative complications.