Northern Nut Growers' Assn., Proc. 1940 172-179. 1941.
10. Massey, A. B. Antagonism of the walnuts (_Juglans nigra I._ and
_J. cinerea_.) in certain plant associations. Phytopathology 15:
773-784. 1925.
11. Pirone, P. P. The detrimental effect of walnut to Rhododendrons
and other ornamentals. Nursery Disease Notes 11; 1-4. 1938.
12. Plinius Secundus, C. The historie of the world. English
translation by P. Holland, A. Islip, London. 1601.
13. Schneiderhan, F. J. The black walnut (_Juglans nigra L._) as a
cause of death to apple trees. Phytopathology 17: 529-540. 1927.
Possible Black Walnut Toxicity on Tomato and Cabbage
_By OTTO A. REINKING
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station_
The toxicity or antagonism of black walnut roots and those of certain
other plants has been a controversial question. L. H. MacDaniels and W.
C. Muenscher in a report on page 172 of the Thirty-first Annual Meeting
of the Nut Growers' Association held in 1940 cited evidence pro and con
relative to the toxic effect of black walnut on various crops. They
concluded that because of conflicting evidence, the problem of walnut
toxicity was still unsolved and needed further investigation. In 1942,
Babette I. Brown reported on page 97 of the Thirty-third Annual Report
of the Northern Nut Growers' Association, on the injurious influence of
bark of black walnut roots on seedlings of tomato and alfalfa. It was
concluded, from carefully conducted tests, that walnut roots produce a
substance that may be injurious to certain other plants. Experimentation
showed that the walnut root bark produces a substance that is injurious
to alfalfa and tomato seedlings.
During the past years, a number of instances of stunting and wilting of
tomato plants in the vicinity of black walnut trees has been observed.
In 1942, a very definite case of wilting and stunting was noted in
cabbage plants growing in the vicinity of a black walnut tree.
Severely wilted tomato plants were observed on July 30, 1943, in a field
of tomatoes near Egypt, New York. This case was typical of others
observed in tomato fields in recent years. The wilting and stunting were
all located in one corner of the field, on both sides of which large
black walnut trees were growing, and extended out in the field for a
distance somewhat greater than the height of the trees. The rest of the
field planted with the same stock of tomatoes was entirely healthy. The
field had been planted to beans in 1942 and prior to that had been in
grass for at least 7 years. The vascular bundles of affected plants were
browned as in Verticillium or Fusarium wilt and in some bacterial
diseases. No cankers or discolorations were observed on the external
parts of the plants. In order to determine whether or not the wilting
was caused by a fungus or bacterium, plants were collected for
microscopic examination and for culturing to show possible presence of
pathogens. The microscopic examinations showed the absence of fungi or
bacteria in the vascular system or other plant tissues. The browning in
the vascular bundles appeared to be confined to the phloem tissue. All
attempts to culture a pathogenic fungus or bacterium from affected
tissue was negative. Portions of diseased plants with discolored
vascular bundles were placed in a damp chamber and no fungus or
bacterial growth developed from the vascular system. From these field
and laboratory studies, it was concluded that the wilting and stunting
were not produced by a plant pathogen. Since the affected plants in the
field were all confined to the area adjacent to black walnut trees, and
the fact that it had been shown that the bark of this tree does produce
a substance that is toxic to certain plants, it was concluded by
circumstantial evidence alone that the wilting possibly was due to black
walnut toxicity or antagonism of some sort.
In August of 1942, studies were made on wilted and stunted cabbage
plants growing in a semicircle on one side of a field adjacent to a
walnut tree (Fig. 1). The field was located near Hall, New York, in a
region known to be infested with cabbage yellows. From a distance, the
affected plants appeared to have yellows, but upon close study, it was
found that they were merely wilted and stunted and did not show the
other typical symptoms of the yellows disease. The root systems of
wilted plants did not show the presence of club root or black rot
infection. The plants in the field were all of one variety and came from
the same seed bed. Microscopic studies and attempts to culture a fungus
from the vascular bundles of affected plants showed the absence of any
fungus that might have caused, the disease. Since the affected plants
showed no symptoms of known cabbage diseases and as they were growing
in a semicircle adjacent to a walnut tree, it was concluded that the
presence of the root system of this tree might have been the cause of
the trouble.
[Illustration: Fig. 1. Wilted and stunted cabbage plants growing in a
semicircle adjacent to a black walnut tree. Note large, healthy plants
in foreground, side and background about a semicircle of smaller, wilted
plants, growing in an area affected by the root system of the black
walnut tree.]
These two instances of wilting and stunting of plants in the vicinity of
walnut trees give further circumstantial evidence that the trouble might
have been caused by the toxicity or antagonism of black walnut roots.
Detailed experiments with the plants in question would have to be run to
prove this assumption.
Preliminary Studies on Catkin Forcing and Pollen Storage of Corylus and
Juglans
L. G. COX, _Cornell University_
Methods of collecting and storing pollen are of great interest to those
engaged in plant breeding. Very little reliable information is available
for the various nut species compared with many other horticultural
plants. The following preliminary experiments were conducted to obtain
data on germination media, forcing methods, and storage conditions for
Corylus and Juglans Sieboldiana pollen. The former was mostly from
hybrid plants produced by crossing the Rush filbert (Corylus americana)
with European varieties.
_The optimum temperature and sugar concentration for germination of
Corylus pollen._
The cut ends of Corylus branches with mature catkins collected March 1,
1942 were immersed in water and forced into shedding pollen in a room at
a temperature of approximately 20 deg. centigrade. The collected pollen was
sifted upon the surface of a thin layer of sugar-agar in petri dishes.
Commercial cane sugar was used in preference to purified sucrose,
because other studies have shown it to contain impurities which
stimulate pollen germination. A range in sugar concentration from 5% to
55% by weight in 5% intervals was made up in distilled water containing
1.5% agar, heated to boiling and poured into the petri dishes.
The pollen was incubated at 10 deg. C. and at 25 deg. C. on the agar medium for
48 and 24 hours respectively prior to making the germination counts.
Pollen was assumed to have germinated if the length of the pollen tube
exceeded the diameter of the pollen grain.
At 25 deg. C. germination was prompt and uniform with a maximum of 19.5% at
25% sugar concentration. At 10 deg. C. the rate of germination was very slow
and incomplete at the end of 48 hours with a maximum of 9% germination
at 35% sugar concentration. For subsequent work a temperature of 25 deg. C.
and a sugar concentration of 25% by weight was taken as a standard.
_The effect of temperature and humidity during forcing on the viability
of the pollen_
Pollen shed from catkins forced in a warm, dry room (about 75 deg. F.), and
in a cool, humid greenhouse (60 deg. F.) gave pollen germinating 36% and 69%
respectively, which indicated that the air temperature and humidity
surrounding the developing catkins may have considerable effect on the
viability of the maturing pollen.
The experiment was repeated by forcing the catkins at 10 deg. C., 18-20 deg. C.,
and 24-26 deg. C., at two humidity levels. The low humidity level
corresponded to the natural room humidity, about 25% and the higher
level of nearly 100% was achieved by enclosing the branches with catkins
in large sealed cans over a water surface. As soon as a majority of the
catkins began to shed their pollen or to absciss their full developed
anthers, the catkins were removed and dried on a sheet of smooth paper
at room temperature until the pollen was shed. The pollen was then
collected and stored at 4 deg. C. until used. The results obtained are given
in table 1.
Table 1. Percentage germination after 24 hours of Filbert pollen
forced at different temperatures and humidities.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Temperature
10 deg. C. 18-20 deg. C. 24-26 deg. C.
Low humidity 80 31 7
High humidity 96 60 12
--------------------------------------------------------------
Later experiments indicate that the pollen viability is greatly lowered
if the catkins are removed from the higher humidities prior to the
maturity of the anthers as indicated by their tendency to shed their
pollen. Apparently the high humidity hinders the dehiscence of anthers
and shedding of the pollen grains.
_Effect of catkins extracts on pollen germination_
The failure of pollen to germinate in the catkins at 100% humidity
suggested the possibility that the catkin tissue might contain some
substance which prevented germination of the mature pollen grains until
after it was shed.
Two mature catkins plus remnants of their unshed pollen were ground in a
mortar with a small amount of water in clear quartz sand. One cubic
centimeter of the resulting turbid suspension was added to 10 cc. of
warm fluid agar and mixed by rotating the petri dish.
Pollen which gave a 91% germination on the standard medium showed only
50% germination on this catkin extract. Germination was distinctly
abnormal with short stubby pollen tubes, often with numerous nodular
swellings. In general the pollen tube grew up into the air away from the
surface of the agar, rather than down into it or parallel with the
surface as in normal germination.
_Storage of Corylus and Juglans Sieboldiana pollen_
Sulphuric acid solutions to give humidities from 10% to 100% in 10%
intervals were made up. The storage chambers consisted of Atlas
one-pint, wide-mouth fruit jars. In the bottom of each was placed a
small 1-oz. bottle containing 20 cc. of the sulphuric acid solution. The
pollen was placed in small glass vials loosely stoppered with cotton.
Two lots of Corylus pollen of 80-1/2 and 96-1/2 initial viability
respectively, and one lot of Juglans Sieboldiana pollen of well over 50%
viability were used in the experiment. Storage temperatures of 0 deg. 40 deg.
and 10 deg. were used.
The Corylus pollen was placed in storage March 20, 1942, and the Juglans
April 12, 1942. The pollen was taken out of storage November 28, 1942
and germinated on the standard agar-sugar medium at 25 deg. C. for 24 hours.
Results are given in table II.
Table II. The effect of storage temperature and humidity on
percentage germination of Corylus and Juglans pollen
------------------------------------------------------------------
Kind of Temperature Degrees Per cent relative humidity
Pollen Centigrade 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
------------------------------------------------------------------
Corylus 10 deg. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --
Juglans -- 0 -- 0 3 0 0 --
Corylus 4 deg. 0 0 0 0 9.0 0 -- 0
Juglans -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 0 0
Corylus 0 deg. 3.0 1.0 4.5 8.5 0 0 0 0
Juglans -- 0 -- 12.0 -- 12.0 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------
This preliminary work indicates that Corylus pollen can best be stored
at 0 deg. C. at 30 to 40% relative humidity and Juglans pollen at 0 deg. C. at
40 to 60% relative humidity.
_Summary_
1. The optimum sugar concentration for germination of Corylus pollen is
around 25% by weight in 1.5 per cent agar at 25 deg. C.
2. Forcing the catkins at a low temperature (4 deg. C.) and at high relative
humidity (80%) favors the development of a high percentage of viable
pollen.
3. The catkins contain some substance which when added to the
germination media inhibits pollen germination and causes abnormal types
of germination.
4. Preliminary results on pollen storage indicate that Corylus americana
pollen can be stored for eight months or more in a viable condition at
0 deg. C. with a range of 30 to 40% relative humidity. Juglans Sieboldiana
pollen can be stored at 0 deg. C. at 40 to 60% relative humidity. Whether or
not pollen stored for this length of time would be effective in plant
breeding should be tested by actual trial. The supposition based upon
studies with other pollens is that germination tests are a reliable
indication of the effectiveness of pollen in fertilization.
Storage and Germination of Nuts of Several Species of Juglans
W. C. MUENSCHER AND BABETTE I. BROWN
_Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y._
While working on the general problem of the possible toxic effect of the
roots of species of Walnut (_Juglans_) upon other plants we have had
occasion to germinate the nuts to produce seedlings for experimental
use.[1] The storage treatment employed previous to planting the nuts
provided a successful method of supplying viable nuts. The simple
treatment used, a modification of that suggested by Barton,(2) is
briefly described and the results that may be obtained are indicated in
a report of some germination data from the plantings of 1943.
The nuts were harvested after they had fallen from the trees and were
stored in a cool place as soon as possible thereafter until the time
when the husks were removed. Those harvested at Ithaca were put in cold
storage at once; those harvested in California or Texas were delayed a
few weeks during shipment. The husked nuts were stratified between
layers of moist peat 2 cm. thick in two-or five-gallon crocks. The
uppermost layer of nuts was covered with peat to a depth of about 10 cm.
The nuts were placed in a cold room at 1 to 3 deg. C. in late autumn and
left until they were planted, between April 15 and June 2. Nearly all
species used germinated well after about five to six months of cold
storage.
Table 1 shows the results obtained from treated nuts of ten species of
_Juglans_ when they were planted in the open field, in soil in the
greenhouse or in moist sphagnum in the greenhouse. While some variation
in germination is observed, most of the species gave a good germination
under all treatments. The field planted seeds were somewhat slower in
appearing above the soil surface than those planted in the greenhouse.
This delay may have been caused by the cold rainy weather soon after
planting. The firmness of the soil, a clay loam, may also have retarded
the emergence of the seedlings.
The germination percentages are based upon lots of 100 nuts except in a
few species in which only 50 nuts were used. Differences in the
percentage of germination obtained from various plantings of the same
species are slight in most species. Even the larger differences in
germination obtained in a few species cannot be considered significant
but probably indicate variations in the quality of the original lots
used.
Summary
Walnuts husked soon after harvest, before they are completely air-dried,
and stored in moist peat at 1 to 3 deg. C. for five to six months have their
dormancy broken and remain viable for at least three months thereafter.
This treatment is effective for all ten species tested. It is probably
effective for all species of _Juglans_. This method of handling the nuts
has the advantage over outdoor stratifying or autumn planting which
often result in much damage or loss of nuts from the activities of
rodents.
Table 1. Germination of nuts of _Juglans_ spp. after stratifying in
peat over winter, at 1-3 deg.C.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per cent germination
-------------------------------------
|Date |Planted in| |Planted
Kind Source |entered|soil in |Planted |in
|in |greenhouse|in field|sphagnum
|storage|April 15 |April 24|June 2
-----------------------------------+-------+----------+--------+--------
nigra (Cornell) Ithaca, N.Y. |Oct. 1 | 70 | 80 | 68
nigra (Cayuga) Ithaca, N.Y. |Oct. 1 | 100 | -- | 80
cinerea--Ithaca, N.Y. |Oct. 1 | 60 | 44 | 8
regia (Sorrentina) Chico, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 66 | 48 | 8
regia (Franquette) Chico, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 80 | 36 | --
regia--Chico, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 75 | 46 | --
Sieboldiana--Ithaca, N.Y. |Oct. 1 | 100 | 40 | --
honorei--Chico, Calif. |Dec. 18| 60 | 55 | 46
pyriformis--Riverside, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 10 | 54 | 31
rupestris--Alpine, Texas |Oct. 1 | 40 | 83 | 50
major--Riverside, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 90 | 92 | 66
californica--Pomona, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 62 | 84 | 91
californica quercina--Chico, Calif.|Dec. 18| -- | 18 | 25
hindsii--Riverside, Calif. |Nov. 9 | 50 | 56 | 52
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References--
1. Brown, Babette I. Injurious Influence of Bark of Black Walnut Roots
on Seedlings of Tomato and Alfalfa. Northern Nut Growers Association,
1942: 97-101. 1943.
2. Barton, Lela V. Seedling Production in _Carya ovata_. _Juglans
cinerea_ and _Juglans nigra_. Contr. Boyce Thompson Inst. 8: (1) 1-5.
1936
A Key to Some Seedlings of Walnuts
W. C. MUENSCHER AND BABETTE I. BROWN
_Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y._
While working with the seedlings of several species of walnuts certain
diagnostic characters, by which the common species can be separated,
became evident. These characters have been used to make a key to
seedlings from one to three months of age. This key has been found
helpful to us and it is here presented in the hope that it may prove
useful to others who need to handle and determine walnuts in the
seedling stage.
The key has two main divisions based upon the types of leaves on the
main axis. The first division includes three species, _Juglans
sieboldiana_, Japanese butternut, _J. cinerea_, American butternut, and
_J. regia_, Persian or English walnut, all of which have only compound
green leaves. In addition, one or more pairs of minute simple scales or
buds occur on the lower part of the stem but above the cotyledons. The
second main division includes species in which the seedlings have
several simple, alternate, scale-like leaves followed successively by
serrate, lobed and finally compound leaves forming a gradual series.
This group includes _Juglans rupestris_, Texas black walnut, _J. nigra_,
eastern black walnut, _J. honorei_, Ecuador walnut, _J. pyriformis_,
Mexican walnut, _J. major_, Arizona black walnut, _J. californica_,
California black walnut, and _J. hindsii_, Hind's black walnut.
It is important that the leaves on the primary axis arising from the
plumule are examined. If the primary axis is injured secondary shoots
may arise from the axils of the cotyledons. These may develop various
types of leaves not necessarily like those of the primary axis. The key
is based upon seedlings grown in the field and in the greenhouse at
Ithaca, New York.
_A Key to seedlings of some species of Juglans_
1. Leaves on the primary axis all compound; 1 to 4 pairs of opposite or
subopposite reduced scales or buds sometimes present on the lower
axis but above the cotyledons.
2. Scales or buds wanting between the lowest compound leaves and the
leaves and the cotyledons _J. sieboldiana_
2. Scales or buds in pairs on 1 to 4 nodes below the compound leaves.
3. Stem with 1 pair of opposite scales or buds near the base; leaflets
hairy, serrate _J. cinerea_
3. Stem with 2 to 4 pairs of opposite scales or buds below the compound
leaves; leaflets glabrous, entire or denticulate _J. regia_
1. Leaves on the primary axis alternate, forming a gradual series from
simple, entire scales to compound leaves; the lower 3 to 8 leaves simple.
4. Lateral veins of leaflets all or mostly all terminating in the notches
between marginal teeth _J. rupestris_
4. Lateral veins of leaflets or their main branches all or mostly all
terminating in the apex of marginal teeth.
5. Midrib of leaflets glandular hairy.
6. Glandular hairs on midrib of young leaflets interspersed with
stellate clusters of gray glandless hairs; lateral leaflets ovate
to broadly lanceolate, rugose _J. nigra_
6. Glandular hairs on midrib of young leaflets interspersed with
sessile, usually yellow glands; lateral leaflets lanceolate, not
rugose _J. honorei_
5. Midrib of leaflets glabrous or nearly so, sometimes with scattered,
sessile glands.
7. Leaflets lanceolate, with acuminate apex; rhachis glabrous.
8. Leaflets widest near middle; vein-islets prominently
raised; free ends of veins wanting or if present distinct
to the apex and mostly unbranched _J. pyriformis_
8. Leaflets mostly widest below the middle; vein-islets not
prominently raised; free ends of veins slender, terminating
in indistinct branches _J. major_
7. Leaflets ovate or nearly so, with obtuse or acute apex;
rhachis somewhat pubescent.
9. Petioles of the 3 lower compound leaves less than 1 cm.
long; leaves crowded on a short axis _J. californica_
9. Petioles of the lower compound leaves from 1+ to 3 cm.
long; leaves more distant on an elongated axis _J. hindsii_
Further Tests with Black Walnut Varieties
L. H. MACDANIELS _and_ J. E. WILDE, _Cornell University_
In 1937 the Northern Nut Growers Association committee on varieties and
judging standards proposed a tentative schedule for the judging and
evaluation of black walnut varieties(1). It was pointed out at that time
that for one reason or another none of the schedules which had been used
in judging walnuts were satisfactory and usable in giving an accurate
estimate of the cracking quality and value of a variety. It was
recognized also that the schedule proposed was only tentative and that
it would need to be modified in the light of future testing and
experience. In 1939 the question was again considered(2) and on the
basis of tests which had been made, changes were proposed which would
make the schedule more realistic. Since then many tests have been made
using the modified schedule. The purpose of this paper[A] is to give the
data secured in these tests and to consider again the value of the
schedule and possibilities of improvement.
[Footnote A: The authors are indebted to many persons for furnishing
samples for testing and for making duplicate tests. This cooperation is
gratefully acknowledged with thanks.]
Recently a number of papers have been published dealing with the
evaluation of black walnut varieties. In 1941 Kline and Chase(3)
compiled the available published data and additional tests made by the
Tennessee Valley Authority on nut weight and kernel percentage of black
walnut selections. Two hundred and twelve clones and 335 tests are
reported. As would be expected the samples of the same variety from
different localities show variation in weight per nut and in total per
cent kernel. For example, in 12 samples of the variety Ohio the weight
per nut varies from 14.8 grams to 18.7 and the per cent kernel from 16.6
to 32.9. Twenty-one tests of Thomas show variations in single nut weight
from 16.7 to 25.0 grams and in per cent kernel from 19.0 to 30.0. In
general the samples grown in the north were made up of smaller nuts with
less per cent kernel, indicating that the varieties were not suited to
that latitude.