96 CACAO 



as the spores reach maturity and assume the brown septate 

 form. Cultivation experiments also show that the hyaline 

 spores will germinate, but not so quickly as the mature 

 form, and that the septate or mature spore germinates from 

 both cells while the immature germinates^from one cell 

 only (" Studies in Cacao Disease," J. H H., in Proceedings 

 of the Agricultural Society, November 1, 1908). A sub- 

 sequent note of the same publication (February 1909) 

 records that spores taken from a petiole of a coco-nut leaf 

 from the same locality (Trinidad) examined by Stockdale, 

 and in his paper on coco-nut disease, identified by Patouil- 

 lard as Botryodiplodia sp., when introduced into a healthy 

 cacao-pod, produced " Brown Rot " in every particular, 

 thus showing its apparent identity with Diplodia cacaoicola. 

 A fungus, again to all appearanc^e identical, has been found 

 on stems of Castilloa elastica, and on the root of an orange- 

 tree, and has been determined as Botryodiplodia by 

 authorities. Diplodia has also been found on a Clusia 

 fruit in the forest, and is said to affect the holly, lilac, 

 chestnut, mulberry, and various conifers in Europe. 

 Howard, it appears, was the first to find it on cacao-trees. 

 There appears in these records strong evidence that 

 we are either dealing with one organism only, or with 

 forms or related genera differing but little one from the 

 other. 



In 1906 the author reported the death of young cacao- 

 trees from an organism apparently attacking the roots 

 {Root disease). Specimens were transmitted to the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture and from thence to the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington, the determination being 

 that the fungus was a species of Lasiodiplodia, similar to 

 one attacking cacao and mango in Brazil and San Domingo. 

 Subsequent examination of the stems of young trees killed 

 out by this fungus afford strong evidence of wound infection 

 by Diplodia, as its characteristic fructification appeared, 

 and there is nothing in any of the many sets of specimens 

 that show any difference in form, method of attack, or 

 ultimate result which contrasts with the recognised form 



