INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1913-14. 69 



Botanical Series II, No. 9 " Wilt disease of Pigeon pea." 

 No results of sufficient interest to justify publication have 

 yet been gained in connection with these diseases, which 

 are of sufficient importance to be considered as amongst the 

 major diseases of crops in India. 



The work on potato blight recently commenced may 

 also require to be treated as a major investigation if the 

 disease recurs in the Gangetic Plain, where there was a 

 severe outbreak last year. It is hoped to study the growth 

 of the parasite in artificial culture and in particular to 

 investigate its temperature relations as it is in this direc- 

 tion that its control appears to be most hopeful. As minor 

 investigations the study of some allied parasites will be 

 undertaken. Two of these have been studied in detail and 

 the results published as Memoirs, Botanical Series V, Nos. 

 4 and 5, 3 913, since the submission of the last programme 

 to the Board. 



The opium poppy blight has usually been believed to be 

 caused by an allied fungus to the last mentioned group, but 

 evidence was obtained last year, when the disease was 

 severe, which suggests that this is not the case, but that the 

 cause is a species of Rhizoctonia. The investigation of 

 this disease will be directed to ascertain the true cause and 

 to test methods of control. The study of other diseases 

 caused by Rhizoctonia will be continued as occasion arises, 

 and as sufficient material has been accumulated to undertake 

 a more detailed study of this genus, it will be considered a 

 major investigation. 



The study of certain green parasites of crops will be 

 continued. Little is known of these parasites in India 

 and it is of importance to investigate their biology, 

 particularly with reference to possibilities of checking the 

 damage caused by them. The investigation has only 

 recently been commenced and has not yet given any definite 

 results. 



Some preliminary work on soil fungi has been com- 

 menced and it is hoped to develop this as time permits, 

 particularly with a view to elucidate the action of 



