60 U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE MISC. PUB. 939 



Sal Top-Dying 



Hypoxylon mediterraneum (de Not.) Mill. var. microspora Miller 

 is a widespread fungus on sal (Shorea robvsta Gaertn.) in north 

 India. Becomes of economic significance only on poor sites, with 

 sal in quality classes III and IV (60-80 ft. and below 60 ft. height 

 growth, respectively) . Top-dying of sal occurs on deteriorating sites. 

 Trees thus weakened become attacked by Hypoxylon, which hastens 

 death of trees or prevents their recovery. The fungus is parasitic 

 and kills tissues on which fruit bodies develop so that they are found 

 on bark of dead branches and stems of dying and dead trees. Stroma 

 effused in wide patches formed within the bark, black, carbonaceous, 

 1 to 2 mm. thick; perithecia with ostiolar necks protruding beyond 

 ectostroma and with circular depression around ostioles, cylindrical, 

 black and carbonaceous, 1-1.6 X 0.15-0.25 mm. ; asci cylindrical inter- 

 mixed with paraphyses; ascospores ovoid to ellipsoid, dark brown to 

 almost black, one guttulate, 8.5-12.2 X 7.1-9.2//,. 



Since weakened sal trees on poor sites are attacked by the fungus, 

 the vigor of the stand should be restored by improving site conditions 

 through proper silvicultural treatment such as fire protection, closure 

 to grazing, and contour trenching to minimize water runoff and thus 

 increase soil moisture. Dead and dying trees should be removed early 

 to permit salvage of timber which is sound, and also to reduce fire 

 hazard from dead branches and bark falling on ground. 



The pathogen is known from the Mediterranean area on oaks. 



Hosts: Dipterocarpaceae — Shorea robusta Gaertn. 

 Literature : Boyce, J. S., and Bakshi, B. K. Dying of sal. Indian 

 Forester 85 : 585-588. 1959. 



Khair Heart Rot 



Fomes badius Berk. A perennial heart-rot fungus almost exclu- 

 sively on khair (Acacia catechu Willd.) in both natural and artificial 

 stands. Heartwood, valued for katha and cutch, becomes decayed. 

 Rot is white and spongy. Sporophores develop commonly and serve 

 to identify diseased trees, which otherwise grow apparently healthy. 



Sporophores perennial, hard, woody, usually 7X4X3 cm. ; upper 

 surface brown to black, sometimes rimose with age ; hy menial surface 

 dull brown, pore tubes distinctly stratified, basidiospores yellowish- 

 brown, 5.8-7.5 X 4.1-5.8/*, windblown, cause infection through wounds 

 due to lopping for fuel, fodder, seed collection, etc., or animal damage. 



Causes great economic loss to khair, an important cash crop tree. 

 Attacks trees above 4 inches d.b.h. when heartwood develops. 



Since Fomes badius is a wound parasite, control of the disease is 

 secured by prevention of injury to trees. Diseased trees should be 

 removed to eliminate source of infection and also for early salvage 

 of heartwood, which becomes more and more decayed if trees are left 

 in the stand. 



Khair is indigenous in India, Pakistan, and Burma. It is tried 

 elsewhere as an exotic. Importation of wood decayed by the fungus 

 should be forbidden. 



Hosts : Leguminosae — Acacia catechu Willd. 



Literature : Bakshi, B. K. Diseases of khair ( Acacia catechu Willd.) 

 and their prevention. Indian Forester 83 : 41-46. 1957. 



