Transactions British Mycological Society 522 CERCOSPORA RUSCICOLA SP.NOV. FROM INDIA V. G. RAO AND A. S. PAT1L Maharashtra Associationfor the Cultivation of Science, Poona 4, India Ruscus aculeatus L., popularly known as 'Butcher's Broom', is a small evergreen shrub with cladodes (phylloclades) and is largely cultivated in gardens as an ornamental. The cladodes (modified stems) are green and leaf-like with typical small greenish flowers. During 1969-70 a severe disease in the form of extensive irregular necrotic areas was observed on the leaves of many Ruscus plants at Poona (India), ultimately resulting in defoliation and blight. The causal organism proved to be a species of the form-genus Cercospora Fresen. A review of the literature (Chupp 1953; Govindu & Thirumalachar, 1963; Vasudeva, 1963) also revealed no report of any Cercospora species on this or allied species. The fungus is therefore described as a new species, Cercospora ruscicola sp.nov. Maculae plerumque in epiphyllo evolutae, atro-marginatae, ovatae vel irregulares, rubiginosae vel fusco-brunneae, ut plerumque ad apices vel margines foliorum, saepe coalescentes atque efforrnentes infectionis textus amplos et irregulares. Stromata bene evoluta, compacta, brunnea vel fusco-brunnea, 38-80 pm diam. Conidiophora compacta fasciculata, simplicia, numerosa, brunnea, non-ramosa, parietibus crassis, leniter divergentia, recta vel curvata, 3-5 septata, cicatricibus 2-6, geniculata ad apicem, rotundata ad basin, 34'2-76'0 x 4'7-5'7 pm. Conidia subhyalina vel olivacea, acicularia vel filiforrnia, recta vel moderate curvata, 3-12 septata, cicatricibus distinctis, subobtusa vel obconica ad apicem, truncata ad basin, gradatim attenuata, marginibus laevibus, 3°'4-106'4 x 3'0-4'7 pm. Bab. In foliis viventibus Rusci aculeati L. (Liliaceae), A. S. Pati!, 29. vi. 1970, Poona, India, M.A.C.S. Mycol. Herb. 981 (Holotypus). Grateful thanks are offered to Professor M. N. Kamat for his keen interest and advice and to the Director for laboratory facilities at the Institute. REFERENCES CHUPP, C. (1953)' A monograph of the fungus genus Cercospora. Ithaca, New York. H. C. & THIRUMALACHAR, M.J. (1963). Check list of Cercospora species in India. Department of Agriculture, Mysore State, Research Bulletin 7. VASUDEVA, R. S. (1963). Indian Cercosporae. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. GOVINDU, Trans. Br. "!)'tot. SOl:. sa (3), (1972). Printld in Great BritauJ Notes and Brief Articles 50,urn c 25,urn Fig. I. Cercospora ruscUola. A, Habit; B, stroma with conidiophores; C, conidia. PECTOLYTIC ENZYME PRODUCTION IN CULTURE OF TWO PATHOGENS OF RUMEX SPECIES C. R. POPE Department of Botany, Royal Holloway College, ｾｩｳｲ･ｶ ｮｕ of London Pectolytic enzymes have been shown to be involved in the degradation of pectic constituents of cell walls and middle lamellae in leaf spots (Hancock, Millar & Lorbeer, 1964a; Segall & Newhall, 1960). Venturia rumicis (Desm.) Wint. and Ovularia obliqua (Cooke) Oud. cause leaf-spot diseases of Rumex. The former gives rise to limited lesions whereas O. Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. sa (3), (1972). Printed in Great Britain