220 ^^^ Philippine Journal of Science ms 



Botryodiplodia anceps Sacc. et Syd., Valsaria insitiva (de Not.) 

 Ces. et de Not., Diplodia mori West. 



MUCUNA DEERINGIANA MERR. (STIZOLOBIUM DEERINGIANA BORT.) 



VELVET BEAN 



The velvet bean may have its leaves attacked by Cercospora 

 stizolobii Syd. and by a rust, Uromyces mucunae Rabh. 



MUSA SAPIENTUM LINN. BANANA 



BACTERIAL STEM ROT 



Symptoms. — A stem rot occurs on weakened bananas. The 

 disease is not very serious and probably is due to bacteria. 

 None of the true bud rots have been yet observed in a destructive 

 form on banana. 



FRUIT BLAST 



Symptoms. — A blasting of the young fruit occurs frequently, 

 but is undoubtedly due to causes other than fungi. A fungus, 

 Diplodia crebra Sacc, has been found associated with the 

 diseased fruits. 



LEIAF spot: MACROPHOMA MUSAE (CKE.) BERLESE ET VOGLINO 



Symptoms. — Older leaves with lowered vitality are frequently 

 severely attacked by this fungus. Leaves whipped by wind are 

 more subject to attack. The disease is characterized by the 

 formation of blackish to brownish stripes extending from the 

 midrib to the edges. The surface of diseased leaves is rough- 

 ened, due to the numerous thickly produced black spore-bearing 

 bodies of the fungus. These pycnidia .are rather large and are 

 produced in enormous numbers. They are frequently com- 

 pacted, forming circular, raised blackish spots. Since only the 

 older leaves, with lowered vitality, are attacked, the disease is 

 not a serious one. 



Causal organism. — Within the pycnidia are produced large, 

 oval, hyaline, one-celled spores containing numerous oil droplets. 



Control. — Burning of infected fallen leaves is advised. 



Another fungus, Sporodesmium bakeri Syd., may be found 

 associated with the Macrophoma leaf spot. It is, however, of 

 little importance. Plicaria bananincola Rehm. is found on dead 

 plants. 



LEAF spot: MYCOSPHAERELLA MUSAE SPEGAZZINI 



Symptoms. — A common leaf spot found in almost all planta- 

 tions. The disease is not destructive and consequently is of 

 little importance. It is characterized by the formation of rather 



