INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, EOR 1913-14. 53 



of coconut palms. From such infections the fungus reaches 

 the central bud by means of motile zoospores being washed 

 down the leaves. Once the soft white leaf bases are 

 reached a virulent rot takes place leading to the death of 

 the tree. As the result of numerous observations on the 

 discharge of zoospores it was concluded that the fungus 

 probably belongs to the genus Phytophthora and not to 

 Pythium. 



Active measures, on the lines of those in operation in 

 the Godavari, have been taken against the disease by the 

 Government of Madras. A popular account of this trouble 

 has been published in the Agricultural Journal of India 

 and the more scientific results have appeared in the A nnales 

 Mycologici. 



A ' collar rot ' ' of areca palms has been identified in 

 Sylhet and Khulna and is probably due to Fomes lucidus 

 (Leys) Fr. This fungus also occurs on Guazoma and pure 

 cultures have been obtained from this source by Mr. Hafiz 

 Khan. Inoculations have shown that the fungus is a true 

 parasite on Guazoma and work is being continued on the 

 areca palm. 



(4) Rhizoctonia. — In January last there was a bad out- 

 break of disease on Pusa Farm due to this fungus. The 

 crop affected was chiefly mustard, but the parasite was 

 almost omnivorous. The fungus was Rhizoctonia Najji 

 West — a species not previously observed in India. It is 

 under observation in pure culture; it appears to be incap- 

 able of growth at the temperature of the hot weather and 

 rains in Pusa. 



A rot of stored potatoes at Sabour and Bankipore was 

 also due to Rhizoctonia. The species R. Solani Kiihn was 

 common and in one case a very bad rot was identified as 

 due to R. destruens Tass. The latter fungus was also a 

 virulent parasite on Delphinium at the Alipore Horticul- 

 tural Gardens, Calcutta; in fact it was its occurrence on 

 this plant which enabled it to be identified on the potato. 



At the beginning of the year numerous specimens of 

 diseased poppy plants were received from the officials of the 



