In 1990, a serious root rot disease was
observed in different strip plantations of Court
Chandpur-Subdalpur railroad, Jessore-Benapole
highway and Jessore-Satkhira road of greater
Jessore district. These plantations were covered
with trees such as Cassia siamea, Acacia
auriculiformis, A. nilotica, Albizia procera, Leucena
leucocephala and Dalbergia sissoo. The affected trees
died in patches showing wilting symptoms. C.
siamea, A. auriculiformis and A. procera were
affected most, whereas A. nilotica, L. leucocephala
and D. sissoo were least affected. The leaves of the
diseased trees became brown, dried up and
remained attached to the dead branches. After
excavation of roots, whitish mats of mycelia were
observed on the branch and anchor roots of the
trees. Typical fruit bodies were seen on the collar
region, exposed roots and on Clerodendruni
viscosum and Glycosmispentaphylla situated at the
vicinity of the infected trees (Figs. 1 and 2). The
bark of roots were rotted and, in most cases, the
rotting was extended up to the collar region. The
fungus responsible for the disease was isolated
and identified as Fames lignosus (Klotzsch) Bres.
Heavily infected trees were removed from the
sites. Basal area covering one metre radius of each
diseased tree was drenched with 2% commercial
formalin. The second spray was given 15 days
after the first. The sprays, however, could notsave
the diseased trees butfurtherspread ofthe disease
symptom was checked