A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
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 Glycosmis pentaphylla 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 Fomes 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.