5S REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



other wheat-growing areas, notably in Rajputana. Mimshi 

 Inayat Khan, senior Fieldman, was deputed to collect speci- 

 mens and notes in the Central Provinces at the end of 

 March. Examination at Pusa showed that, while all three 

 varieties of rust were present, most of the damage was 

 caused by " orange " rust (Puccinia triticina) and " black " 

 rust {Puccinia graminis) ; " yellow " rust {Puccinia gluma- 

 rum) was much less in evidence. Previous experience in- 

 dicates that, in normal years, orange rust is absent or scarce 

 in the Central Provinces, though common in Bengal and 

 parts of the United Provinces. It appears, therefore, that 

 in bad years this rust extends its area and much of the 

 losses in 1912 must be attributed to it. In breeding rust- 

 resistant wheats for the Central Provinces, yellow rust need 

 not at present be taken into account. Black rust is always 

 present and does much damage even in normal years ; wheats 

 resistant to this rust would be of undoubted value. As 

 regards orange rust, the growth of wheats which withstand 

 this variety would be a form of insurance against the 

 occurrence of a rusty year. It is not, unfortunately, as yet 

 definitely known whether wheats resistant to all three rusts 

 can be produced. Meanwhile, as it is not possible in 

 ordinary years to study the susceptibility of Central 

 Provinces wheats in regard to orange rust, wheats which 

 resist this rust in localities where it is prevalent might with 

 advantage be introduced into the province. 



{d) Phytofhthora investigations. — Two species of thi. 

 most destructive genus of fungus parasites have been undei 

 special study in the section. The fiTh\ is Phytofhthora 

 Colocasim Rac, which attacks the common indigenous 

 vegetable kachu {Colocasia antiquorum) throughout South- 

 Eastern Asia. Its study was commenced by Mr. G. S. Kul- 

 karni, Mycological Assistant of the Bombay Department, 

 when a student at Pusa in 1909. It has since been continued 

 by myself and its successful growth in artificial culture 

 last year has allowed of the complete working out of its 

 life history. It is hoped to publish the result of this work 

 shortly. Mr. Dastur, First Assistant, has taken up the study 



