198 The Philippine Journal of Science isis 



and Coniosporium dendriticum Sacc. on dead spathes ;Co2?rmzfS 

 friesii var. obscurus Pat. on dead sheaths ; Rosellinia cocoes Henn. 

 on dead peduncles; Eutypella cocos Ferd. et Winge., Diplodia 

 cococarpa Sacc, Diplodia epicocos Cooke var. tninuscula Sacc, 

 Diplodia cococarpa var. onalaccensis Tassi., Cytospora palmicola 

 B. et C, and Peroneutypella cocoes Syd. on husks; Elfvingia 

 tomata (Pers.) Murr. and Ganoderma incrassatum (Berk.) 

 Bres. var. substipitata Bres. on dead trunks; and Gloeoglossum 

 glutinosum (Per.) Durant. on base of living tree. 



COFFEA SPP. COFFEE 



DAMPING off: RHIZOCTONIA 



Symptoms. — A damping off and stem rot of seedlings similar 

 to that discussed under citrus is found on coffee. Diseased plants 

 have browned stems, which shrink and cause the plant to fall 

 (Plate XIII, fig. 1). 



Causal organism. — The causal organism is the same as dis- 

 cussed under citrus stem rot. 



Control. — Seedlings should be grown in sterilized soil and in 

 well-aerated places. 



DAMPING OFF: SCLEROTIUM 



Symptoms. — Coffee seedlings are frequently attacked on the 

 stem just at and above the ground by a Sclerotium that causes 

 a damping off. Infected stems are blackened and somewhat 

 shrunken. The fungus may also spread to the leaves, causing 

 an advancing black rot. Spherical brown sclerotial bodies may 

 be produced on infected portions. The disease is most severe 

 during the rainy season and on seedlings kept in damp places. 

 Young plants are killed by the attack. 



Caudal organism. — In pure culture the fungus produces numer- 

 ous small, smooth, spherical brown sclerotial bodies. Infection 

 experiments have proved the virulence of the fungus isolated, 

 but as yet all attempts to produce spores have failed. This 

 fungus is the same as that which may cause a stem rot and 

 damping off of citrus seedlings. 



Control. — The disease is only severe when plants are grown 

 in poorly aerated places. Seedlings should be grown in sterilized 

 soil and well-ventilated locations. 



FOOT ROT 



Symptoms. — A rot of the trunk of older coffee trees may take 

 place at the surface of the ground. The entire trunk of the 

 plant is girdled, resulting first in a yellowing of the leaves and 

 then in a gradual wilting and death. 



