52 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



' Collar rot ' of sugarcane is due to the attack of 

 Hendersonina Sacchari Butl., a hitherto undescribed genus. 

 The outward symptoms are a withering of the top and a 

 black rot of the roots; the lower nodes show a red 

 discoloration in the pith. The roots and the base of the 

 stem are full of the hyphge of the fungus from which cul- 

 tures are easily obtained. Both in cultures and on diseased 

 canes a pycnidial stage was observed; the pycnidia are 

 peculiar in containing two types of spores in the same 

 loculus. Inoculations with pure cultures of the fungus 

 were carried out at Samalkota and were successful in pro- 

 ducing the disease. This disease occurs at Samalkota and 

 at Jorhat; the extent of the damage caused by it is 

 unknown. 



Helminthosporiose of sugarcane is due to the well 

 known genus Helminthosporium, of which H. Sacchari 

 Butl. is a new species. This fungus is common on the 

 leaves of sugarcane in Pusa where it produces small red 

 discolorations. Inoculations with pure cultures were 

 successful. The damage done by this disease is at present 

 neolioible. 



Smut of sugarcane (Ustilago Sacchari) has been under 

 observation in the Central Provinces and culture work 

 with this fungus is now in progress at Pusa. " Sereh " of 

 sugarcane was reported at Jorhat and Coimbntore during 

 the year. The Imperial Mycologist visited Coimbatore in 

 October last and satisfied himself that " sereh " disease was 

 not present. 



(3) Palm diseases. — During the year an outbreak of 

 bud rot took place among the coconut palms of Malabar. 

 The disease was investigated by the Supernumerary 

 Mycologist, who was at that time officiating as Govern- 

 ment Mycologist, Madras, and proved to be due to Pythium 

 palmivorum Butl., the cause of the palmyra palm disease 

 in the Godavari district. The fungus was studied in pure 

 culture for the first time and inoculations were successfully 

 carried out. It was found that the fungus was particu- 

 larly active in producing rows of spots on the young leaves 



