Moulds

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Moulds in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Moulds, Mold. The term mould is applied to any small fungous growth which appears on decaying organic matter, such as fruits, both fresh and preserved, vegetables, and so on. The moulds are very simple fungi producing immense numbers of spores, a fact which accounts for their presence everywhere, in the air, in dust, and on all exposed bodies. As a rule, these fungi are not directly injurious to plants; they are normally saprophytes and perform a great service in disorganizing organic matter which would otherwise accumulate on the earth. A few of the species may become parasitic. Thus, species of Botrytis often attack lettuce in forcing-houses which are too close and damp. Carnation buds and violet plants are also frequently injured by Botrytis. The mould-like growths occurring on boards in damp cellars or in greenhouse benches are sterile mycelia of higher fungi. These do not attack plants, but sometimes, as in the case of violets, grow over and smother the plants. The so-called sooty moulds constitute the small family of the Perisporiaceae. They receive their name from the fact that they form dark olive-green or black coatings on the twigs and leaves of plants on which they grow. They are not parasitic but live for the most part on the honey-dew secreted by insects and sometimes on the insects themselves. Apparently little direct damage is caused to plants by these fungi. It has been found in laboratory experiments with isolated leaves that those freed from the fungous coating absorb more carbon-dioxide and liberate more oxygen than leaves coated with the fungus. The extent of injury arising from interference with physiological processes on account of shading and the possible closing of the stomata under natural conditions has not been generally determined, but it is certain that orange and lemon trees sometimes suffer serious injury, in fruit and foliage, brought about in this way. The sooty moulds are mostly confined to tropical and subtropical regions where they are abundant on many kinds of plants. They occur occasionally in greenhouses on coriaceous-leaved coolhouse plants, such as oleander and evonymus, which were formerly more generally grown. With the advent of present-day heating systems and the introduction of the practice of growing rapidly shifting crops, these fungi, never of great significance, have practically disappeared from greenhouses. The following are among the more common forms of sooty moulds: Dimerosporium mangifera, on mango; D. pulchrum, on privet, lonicera and cornus; Apiosporium salicinum, common on leaves of woody plants; A. Footii, on greenhouse plants; Capnodium faedum, on oleander; C. guajavae on guava and other tropical shrubs and trees; Meliola Penzigii causes considerable injury to citrus trees in Florida by coating the leaves and fruit. The numerous forms occurring in the tropics have not been fully investigated. See, also, Diseases and Fungi. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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