XIV. 1 Reinking: Coconut Bud Rot in the Philippines 135 
12,813 coconut trees had been found affected in Laguna, Taya- 
bas, Pangasinan, and Zamboanga Provinces. The largest num- 
ber was found in the first two provinces. Since each tree is 
valued at not less than 10 pesos, the entire loss, not including 
early losses and the cost of inspection and burning of affected 
coconut trees, has been 128,130 pesos. The number of trees 
destroyed will undoubtedly be lessened by a thorough system of 
inspection and eradication of diseased trees. Future examina- 
tions ought to show a lower proportion of infection. 
INVESTIGATION OF THE DISEASE 
FIELD STUDIES 
Careful study has been made of more than thirty typical cases 
in the field. These diseased trees were cut down and the buds 
opened for observation. Judging from macroscopic examina- 
tion the infection appeared to be due to bacteria. Portions of 
infected trees were collected and placed in sterile vials for trans- 
porting to the laboratory. In addition to these studies, work 
was done with diseased specimens sent to the College of Agri- 
culture by the Bureau of Agriculture. 
LABORATORY STUDIES 
Bacterial . — During the first part of the investigation micro- 
scopic examinations, in the majority of cases, failed to reveal the 
presence of mycelia. Bacteria, however, were always present 
in abundance. Diseased pieces, which had been collected under 
sterile conditions in the field and placed immediately in sterile 
vials, usually developed no fungi ; but they were completely over- 
grown with bacteria. Later studies have indicated that, in these 
cases, the bacteria multiplied rapidly and destroyed the slower- 
growing fungus that probably was present. The only fungi 
observed in the earlier studies were saprophytic forms. 
Cultures were obtained by cutting and plating small pieces 
from all parts of infected trees, specimens being taken from 
the tip of the unfolded infected leaves down to the growing 
point and the woody tissue below. A mixed culture of bacteria 
was present in the majority of these cases. In very young 
stages of infection, and in tissues into which infection has ad- 
vanced farthest, only one kind of bacterium may be present. 
Such cases were usually not obtained, probably because sapro- 
phytic bacteria are soon washed down into the infected parts 
and there find a favorable place for development. Since no 
specific fungus was isolated in the first studies, and bacteria 
