142 DIE-BACK OF CHILLIES {N BIHAR 
in the beginning of November and the disease was consequently checked. The 
disease did not progress further down the infected part of the plants, and no 
fresh infections on the plants were observed after the cold weather. That 
the disease was checked is also evident from the fact that in the first picking the 
percentage of diseased pods in the plots 3, 4 and 6 was 78°5, 25:0 and 72°8 
respectively, while in the second picking the percentage fell to 30°0, 17°5 and 33°3 
for the respective plots. It was further found that better results are obtained 
if the diseased parts of the plants are thoroughly pruned off before spraying, as 
the fungicide is applied only as a preventive measure and not as a curative. 
The fungus hyphe once inside the tissues are little harmed by the application 
of any spray; therefore the spread of the fungus from within the diseased 
tissues to the neighbouring healthy parts and the ultimate death of the plant 
cannot be prevented ; the spray only checks new imfections from outside. 
However, it is doubtful if the pruning of diseased shoots is practicable on a field 
scale. 
From the above experiments the following deductions can be drawn :— 
1. That the disease appears after the end of the rains—in the first and 
second week of October ; that it attacks plants only at a definite stage m their 
srowth, 7.¢e., when the flowers have set, and that it disappears as soon as the 
cold weather commences in the beginning of November ; the disease on the 
plant is, therefore, of a very short duration. Fruits that mature before the 
beginning of December are much damaged by the disease, but the percentage of 
infection on fruits that ripen later is negligible. These observations are 
completely in accord with those made inthe ryots’ fields. It seems, therefore 
probable that if a late maturing variety could be successfully grown in Bihar 
it would escape the disease. 
2. That Bombay and Peshawar varieties do not grow well im Bihar. 
3. That shaded plants suffer less from die-back and Choanephora than 
unshaded ; no conclusions can be drawn regarding the effect of shade on the 
yield of fruits and percentage of disease. 
4. That the application of 2 cwt. superphosphate+1 ewt. nitrate of 
soda per acre not only increases the total yield of fruits, but also reduces 
the percentage of diseased fruits. It is doubtful if the use of artificial 
manures is possible on account of the present inflated prices of these 
fertilizers. 
5. That two applications of one percent. Burgundy mixture are enough 
to control the disease, both on the plants and on the fruits. It is possible 
that only one application, if given at the right time, may be equally 
efficacious. 
