DISEASES DUE TO NEMATODES (EEL WORMS) 65 



found to survive 6 months' desiccation, returning to normal 

 activity after 1-2 hours' immersion in water. 



Aphelenchus cocophilus, Cobb. 



An extended account of the disease caused by the coco-nut 

 eel-worm is given in the section on diseases of that crop. The 

 worms occupy and breed in the ground tissue of a continuous 

 zone in the stem of the palm, and of the stalks and bases of the 

 leaves. They also spread outwards from the base of the stem 

 in the cortex of the roots. The life history has not yet been 

 worked out, but present indications are that the worms may 

 ascend the outside of the stem and enter the leaf base from below; 

 i.e., on its outer side, and near its attachment to the stem. 



Tylenchus similis, Cobb, and T. musicola, Cobb. 



These species cause diseases of banana in the West Indies 

 which are elsewhere described. They enter the roots and root- 

 stock, causing slight swellings and cracks in the roots, and 

 blackening the tissues of the pockets they occupy in the infested 

 organs. T. similis also attacks sugar-cane roots, causing and 

 occupying blackened dead patches and cavities in them, but 

 producingfno swelling. 



