INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1919-20 63 



Species of H elminthosporium were found commonly 

 attacking maize, jowar (Andropogon Sorghum), bajra 

 (Pennisetum typhoideum), rice, wheat, oats, barley, and 

 ■sugarcane. In every case the chief attack is on the leaves, 

 and excepting the stripe disease of barley the symptoms 

 are on the whole very similar. 



The parasite concerned was isolated from each of the 

 above hosts and grown in pure culture for comparative 

 study. Wheat was found to have a considerable range of 

 forms on it in different parts of India. They appear to be 

 related to H. teres Sacc. On rice the common species ap- 

 pears to be H. Oryzce Hori, previously described from 

 Japan. H. turcicum Pass, occurs on maize and jowar but 

 freely grows also on wheat, oats, barley, and sugarcane. 

 It does not attack bajra and only rarely rice. The species 

 on sugarcane and rice attack all the hosts on which they 

 have been tried whereas the wheat and barley species give 

 reciprocal successful results. Further work on these lines 

 is being done. 



An allied genus, Acrothecium, is parasitic on several 

 of the Graminew and one species attacks bajra at Pusa 

 somewhat severely. It is a new species, which has been 

 named Acrothecium Penniseti. The attack is on leaves, 

 leaf-sheaths and ears, the leaf-form being the commonest 

 but the ear attack probably doing most damage. The spike- 

 lets are attacked in clusters and the grain aborted. The 

 * attack is, as with so many other fungus diseases at Pusa, 

 closely dependent on the atmospheric humidity. 



The parasite has been isolated and studied in artificial 

 culture by Mr. Mitra who has written a detailed account 

 of it, now in the press as a Memoir. It is a vigorous para- 

 site, with general points of similarity to other parasites 

 of allied genera, It can attack maize ears but not the 

 leaves; jowar is immune. 



A second species, Acrothecium lunatum Wakker, is 

 common at Pusa on maize and jowar, as well as on several 

 wild grasses. It appears to do a good deal of injury to 

 the male inflorescence of the former, where it is sometimes 



