146 
Journal of Mycology 
[Vol. 12 
to the Department of Agriculture from Brazil for examination 
as to the cause of the disease. Unfortunately, no written de¬ 
scription accompanied the specimens and as they were in alcohol 
there was no opportunity to trace the development of the disease 
to determine whether the disease on the pods was the same as 
that which produced the general abnormal branching of the 
twigs. Colletotrichum was definitely determined as present on 
the pods, but it was not in sufficient quantity to be the sole cause 
of the trouble. We inferred this only from the material which 
we had for examination, but of course it is possible that our 
limited amount of material was not typical of the disease in its 
natural place of occurrence. The beans were one mass of brown, 
many septate, knotted mycelia. As these beans were also in a 
preservative fluid no cultures could be started which would lead 
to the identification of this sterile mycelium. A second consign¬ 
ment of specimens of diseased Theobroma cacao consisting of 
pods and wood was received in August of this year from San 
Domingo. These pods showed the presence in great quantity 
of mycelium, similar to that just described, but in this case the 
fungus was fruiting and definitely identified as belonging to the 
genus Lasiodiplodia. 
About three months ago two specimens of the fruit of Man- 
gifera indica were sent to this Office by one of our plant intro¬ 
ducers, who procured them from a local fruit stand, which had 
probably received them from Florida. Although badly rotted 
the fungus was isolated and proved to be Lasiodiplodia. Sev¬ 
eral transfers were made but all cultures, even the first, were 
remarkably pure. 
The question whether this fungus is Lasiodiplodia tubericola 
E. & E. and not a new species, is yet to be determined. To all 
present appearances it is the same, but a series of inoculation 
experiments are in progress to determine if this may be a physio¬ 
logical species. Although the effect produced on these two hosts 
is not that of putrefaction, which is characteristic of this species, 
we are inclined to believe that the length of time which elapsed 
before the materal received our attention and the unusual con¬ 
dition to which it was subjected during that time, may be re¬ 
sponsible for the somewhat softened condition of the fruits. 
That this fungus may be connected with the Witches’ Broom 
disease or “putrefaction” disease, as called by cacao planters, we 
cannot say until we complete our cultural experiments, and have 
more material for our examination together with field observa¬ 
tions. 
Bureau of Plant Industry, 
U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
