On the Die-back Disease of Pauloivtila 



foineidosa caused by a New 



Species of Valsa. 



By 

 Tsikewo Hem mi. 



(With 4 Figures iu the Text.) 



In the early summer of 1914-, my attention was first drawn 

 to the "die-back" disease of the stem of Paulownia towentosa 

 cultivated in the vicinity of Sapporo. The disease is more pre- 

 valent and devastating on younger trees than on older ones. 

 It is due to the attack of a species of Valsa, which is found 

 living on the diseased bark and woody portion. The same 

 fungus was also noticed in 1906 bv Prof, K. Miyabe on the 

 diseased branches of Paulownia sent by Mr. Shakin from 

 IVIombetsu in the Province Iburi, and it was regarded by him 

 to be a new species of Valsa. 



For the last two years, I have had many opportunities of 

 studying carefully the sj^mptoms of the disease as well as the 

 nature of the causal fungus; and as a consequence, I have come 

 also to the conclusion that the fungus in (juestion is a species 

 which has passed undcscribed up to the present time. The 

 disease seems to be ver3' widely distributed in Hokkaido, at 

 whatever place Paulownia tomentosa is being planted. As to 

 its distribution and the extent of its damage in Honshu ver\' 

 little is yet known to us. In 1903, a diseased specimen of 

 Paulownia caused by the same fungus was sent from Mr. 

 Tetsutaro Nakamura in Aomori to Prof. Dr. K. Miyare and 

 the late Dr. Y. Takahasiii with the note that the disease is 

 very prevalent and destructive in the Aomori Prefecture. From 

 these facts, we may draw a conclusi(;n, that the disease is dis- 



