Notes on the Fungous Diseases of Setaria italica. 



By 



Mitsutaro Shirai. 



With PI. II.D 



In Japan Setaria italica is extensively cultivated throughout the 

 whole empire from Hokkaido in the north to the southern extremities 

 of Loochoo and Formosa in the comparatively barren land where other 

 cereals do not grow well, and furnishes one of the most important 

 food-materials to the multitude of inhabitants. Among other fungous 

 diseases that attack this useful plant, one most common and most 

 destructive is that caused by Sclerospora graminicola Schrt. 



The damage done by this parasitic fungus is considerable, often 

 reducing the crop to less than 5Qo/ and in the worst cases almost to 

 nothing. But in spite of its common occurrence and the dreadful 

 effect which it brings, so for as I am aware, no investigations have 

 ever been made in Japan to explain its true nature. So I think it 

 will not be superfluous here to make some notes about it. 



It is already known that the fungus occurs in Europe attacking 

 other species of Setaria and Panicum Grusgalli, and in the United States 

 of America where it destroys among others Setaria italica just as is the 

 case with here. 



In Japan the disease is known by different names in different 

 districts ; as for instance at Koidemura, Koza County, in the province 

 of Sagami, it is called "Sasara" from the resemblance of a peculiary 

 splitted leaf of the diseased plant to " Sasara " or a sort of brush 

 made of a finely divided bamboo-stick, and at Komatsu, in the 

 province of Iyo " Karukaya " or " Dedzubo," both signifying the bar- 

 renness of the plant. 



The following observations were made partly from the dried speci- 

 mens sent to me by Mr. R. Iida of Masemura, Tsukuba County, in 



