A mature female smooth hammerhead shark,

Sphyma zygael1a ( Linnaeus), 2 .14 cm TL (T<lbJe I).

was collected on 6- 10-1975 from the hook and line

fishing operated from the mechanised vessels off Porto

Novo at a depth of 80-90 meters. Since hammerheads

are ident ified from the shape of head and teeth s truCtures

only, the head has been preserved in the museum

of the Marine Resea rch Laboratory of Annamalai

University, Porto Novo

Devadoss, P

Natarajan, R

CMFRI Digital Repository

166 ( Short Scientific NoteJ [ Currelll Science However, the ~hoo{ s resulting [rom the cuHIIr!! '; of noda l stem :;cgments of the flowe,red shoots, produced flowe rs after only 2 months' incubation. The difference in time take n 10 flower by the two types of explanl<; is notewortby. Although it is not poss ible to give an exact explanation to this fact, it appears that some metabolic change'S took place in the t.iss lie of shoot dLlring subcultures, anu the initial period of 18 months. might have betll-necessary (or the accumulation of some flowl"r ind uc ing substa nce/substances to threshold level FIG. 1. An ill vitro flowering shoot of B. X Bliltil/lla cv. 'Louise Wathen '. X 0-6 approx. The presence of such substance/substances in the subsequent explants taken from the in vitro flowe red shoots fa cilita.ted flowerin g, hence the resulting ;:;1100t5 flowered in just 2 months. Such assump-tions find SUpp0l1 from the work reperted by Cha uardr and Aghion1:! on tobacco, where explan1s of stem taken from a young plant or from the basal region of the flower bea ring plant aUil clillured in vitro formed vegetative buds, but those excised from inflorescence stalk formed flower buds. Proximity of the explant to tile inflorescence decided the' ratio of flower buds 10-vegetative buds. T hus, they contemplated the ex istence of a gradient of some "flori ginic factor" in a decreasing order from apex to base in a J10wering tobacco plant. We than k Dr. T. N. Khoshoo, Director, National Botanic Gardens, Lucknow, for the facilities. Tissue Culture Laboratory, Natiom,1 Botanic Gardens, Llicknow, September 13, 1976. H. C. C HATURVEDI. R. N. PRASAD. I. Murashigc, T., AnlJ. R ev. plant Physiol., 1974, 25, 135. 2. Loo, Shih-Wei, Am. 1. Bot. J 1946, 33,295. 3. B,l1dev, D., Alln. Bot., 1962, 26, 1'73. 4. Ra.ghavan, V. and Jacobs. W. P., Am. ]. Bot., 1961, 48, 751. 5. C hailakhan, M. KH. , Blltenko, R G. a n(l Lyubarskaya, 1. 1. , Fiziol. RtlSt . 196: , 8. i 0 I. 6. H arada, H., NaltlreJ 1967, 2 14, 1027. 7. de Fos.:mrd, R. A ., Bot. Gaz., 1972, 133 , 34] . R. - , I bid., 1973, 134, 11. 9. - , Ibid., 1973, 134, 103. 10. - , Tn. : T issue Cultllre and Plall t Science, Ed. , H. E. Street, Academic Press, Inc., N .Y., 1974, p. 193. 11 . Murashige, T . and Skoog, F. , Physiol. Plmltarum, 1962, 15, 47 3. 12. Cha uard, P. and Aghion, D., C.r. A cad. Sci., 196 1, 252, 3864. SHORT SCIENTIFIC NOTES On 8. Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Spftyrntl zygaclltl (Linnaeus. J 758) New to Indian Waters A n11. ture fem a le smoo th hammerhcad shark, Sphyma zygael1a (Linnae us), 2 .1 4 cm TL (T<lbJe I). W1S collected on 6- 10-1975 from the hook and line fi shing opera ted from the mechani sed vessels off Porto Novo at a dep th of 80-90 m eters. Since hammerheads are ident ified from the s~ape of head and teeth s truC-tures on ly, the head has been prese rved in {he museum of the Marine Resea rch Laborato ry of Annamalai University , Po r to Novo. N o r revious record of this species in Indian wa te'rs is available and so the present observation is of interest. RCl1Ige.- S. zygaella has beerl observed only in cooter waters of no rth err. and southern Hemisphe res (Gjlbert J , Map 2) being reported to occur in· the U.S., Eurcre, Japan and Red Sea in the nortllerr. hemisrhere and South America, Sou th Africa, Austra lia and New Zealand in the southern Hemisphere. The rresent observation extcrds it s di~lributional record to Indian , waterS. () Remarks: No previous record o f Sphynt'1 zygaellll has been made in l ndian waters so far. Day2 described Cestracio1! zygaella fr om the Malabar coast which hea la ter na med as a junio r synonym of Zycaella ma'tlclfs. Fowlcf~ a~d Misra 5 sy lonymised Z . malleus under r Vol. 46, No.5 ] March 5, 1977 ~hort Scientific Notes 167 • TABLE I Morphometric characters of a female Sphym( zygucna expressed as pel' cellI of TL Head width 26·3 Snout to 1st gill slit 16'8 , ' . pectoral 19·9 pelvic 46'5 Eye diameter I· 5 Between dorsa l bases 28·3 nares 20-9 Mouth width 7·4 1st dorsal base 9·2 height 12·9 2nd dorsal base 3·1 height 1·9 Anal base 4·5 height 2·2 Pectoral base 6 ' 2 le~gth 16 · 8 , Caudal upper lobe 26·8 lower lobe 14'2 S. zygaenG but Day's 7. mallells clearly shows the median indentation on the anterior margin of head which is characteristically absent in S. zygaenG. The distribution of this species was reported to be continuous during pleistocene glacial periods when equatorial waters were cooler than at present but when the glaciers withdrew and the tropical seas became warmer. this species was supposed to be confined to the cooler waters (vide GilbertI). It is interesting that this species was landed in October during the north-east monsoon time when the sea wa tee is gene-rally cooler. We thank Dr. A. J. Bass of Natio11al Museum, Wellington, New Zealand, and Dr. P. K . Talwar of the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, for their help and ·the University Grants Commission for financial support. Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, AnnamaIai University, Para:1gipettai 608 502, November 11, 1976. / P. DEV ADoss. R. NATARAJAN. 1. G ilber t, C. R., "A revision of the hammerhead sharJ\is (FaIUily: Sphymidae)," Proc. U.S. nafll . MilS., 1967, 119 (3539). ,I, 2. Day, F., The Fishes of Malabar, London, 1865, p.270. 3. - , The Fishes of Illdia, 1 :mel' 2 . Willi:lm Dawsons and Ltd., 1878, p.719, pI. 186, figure 4. 4. Fowler, H. W., "Contributions to the biology of the Philippine archipelago and adjacent region," Bull. U.S. 'lUIII. MilS., 1941, 13 (100), 217. 5. Misra, K. S., "An aid to the identification of the common commercial fishes of India and Pakistan," Rec. indian MilS., 1959, 57, 96. Wet Rot Disease of Banana from Varanasi A large number of Banana fruits were rendered lInpalatable due to we t rot infection. The epicarp of the infected fruits turned sticky, wet and dark brown in colour whereas the endo~arp, the edible por_tion, became reddish green on account of mycelial growth and fruiting structures. The organism was isolated on PDA from the diseased fruits. The microscopic characters of the pathogen from a ten-day old cuHure confirmed that the patho-genicity was due to fungus, Based on morphologica l characters the presen t flU1gus was identified as Bottytis Cinerea Pers. The fWlgus is omnivorous and is capable of attacking numerous plantsl . This is the first report of the pathogen causing wet rot disease in banana fruits. One of us (GPS) is grateful to Dr. B. N. Srivastava, the then Principal of Govt. Degree CoJlege, Jakhini, Yaranasi; for providin g laboratory facilities and the constan t encouragement . Government Degree College, Jakhini, Varanasi and Department of Mycology and Plant Patholcgy, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, December 3, 1976. G. P. SINGH. K. B. KHARE. 1. Subramaniap , C. Y., Hyphomycetes, 1971, p. 406. A New Bulb Rot of Allium cepa During the survey of local vegetable market , a hither-to unr~corded, severe, soft rot disease of Onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb was observed. The jnfccted portion becomes macerated, soft with shripkage and pale white in colour. The complele internal rotting was evident in 7- 10 days. The causal organism was i.:olated fro111 the diseased bulb and identified as Fusarium .'Iolalli (Mart.) Appel and Wr. The fungus grew well on potato dext(ose agar and hos t pulp agar .llledia. Healthy sterilised onion bulbs were inoculated with the fungus by an r Vol. 46, No.5 ] Marcl! 5, 1977 jhort Scientific N otes 167 TABLE I Alorp/lOmelric characters of a f emale Sphyrn( lygacna expressed as per cell i 0/ TL Head width 26·3 Snout to 1st gill sli t 16'8 " pectoral 19·9 pelvic 46·5 Eye diameter I· 5 Between dorsal bases 28·3 na rcs 20·9 Mouth width 7·4 1st dorsa l base 9·2 height 12·9 2nd dorsal base 3 · 1 height 1·9 Ana l base 4 ·5 height 2·2 Pectora l base 6'2 leqgth 16· 8 Caudal upper lobe 26,8 lower lobe 14 · 2 S. zygllCJ/Q but Day's 7 . malleus clea rlY shows the median indentation on the anterior margin of head which is cha racterist ically absent in S. zygaenQ. The distribution of tl'li s species was repor ted (0 be continuous during pleistocene glacia l periods when equatoria l wa terS were cooler than at presen t but ";"hen the gJaciers withdrew and the tropical seas became warmer , this species was supposed to be confined 10 Ihe cooler waters (vide Gilbert i). It is intercsticg that this species was landed in October during the north-east monsoon time when the sea water is gene-raUy cooler . We thank Dr. A. J . Bass of NatioJla l Museum , Wellington, New Zealand, and Dr. P. K. Talwar of the Zoological Survey of India , CalcuHa, for their help and the University Grants Commission for financial . support. Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology. Annamalai University, Pa ra:!gipetta i 608502, November 11 , 1976. ,-' P . DEVADOSS . R. NATARAJAN. 1. Gilbert , C. R. , "A revision of the hammcrhead sharks (Family : Sphyrnidae)," Proc. U.S. nalll . M ilS., 1967, 119 (3539).3 1, 2. Day, F., The Fishes o/ lYa/abar, London, 1865, p. 270. 3 . - , The Fishes of India, 1 :mt' 2. WilliClD1 DawsonS and Ltd., 1878, p. 719, pI. 186, figure 4. 4. Fowler, H . W., "Conlributions to the biology of the Philippine archipelago and adjacent region," Bull. U.S. /lam. Mus., 1941, 13 (1 00), 217. 5. Misra , K . S. , "An aid to the identification of the common commercial fishes of Inrua and P'lkistan," Rec. /lIdkm Mus., 1959, 57, 96. Wet Rot Disease of Banana from Varanasi A la rge numbcr of Banana frui ts were rendered unpa latable due to wet rot infection. The epicarp of the infected fruits turned sticky, wet and dark brown in colour whereas the endo~arp, the edible portion, bccame reddish green on account of mycelial growth and fruiting structures. The o rganism was isolated on PDA from the diseased fruits. The microscopic characters of the pathogen from a lcn-day o ld cult ure confirmed that the patho-gen icity was due to fungus . Based on morphological characters the prescnt fungu s was identified as Botry ti:i cillerea Pers. TIle fWlgUS is omnivorous and is capable of attacking numerouS plants l . This.is the first report of the pathogen causing wet rbt disease in banana frui ts. One of us (OPS) is grateful to Dr. B. N. Srivastava, the then Principal of GOVL Degree College. Jakhini , Varanasi, for providing laboratory fac ili ties and the constant encouragement. Govcrnment Degrct.! College, Jakh ini. Varanasi and Departmen.t of Mycology and l'(an t Pa thology, Banaras Hindu Universi ty, Varauasi 221005, D ecember 3, 1976. G. P.SINGH. K .B.KHARE. 1. Subramapjal', C. V .• Hyphomycetes, 1971 , p. 406. A New Bulb Rot of Allium cepa DuriDg the s urvey of local vegetable m3lket, a hi tJler -to unrecorded, severe, soft rOl disease of Onion (AI/iI/III cepa L.) bulb was observed. The infected portion becomes macerated, soft with shriJl.k;:lge and pale white in colour. The complete internal rotting was eviden t in 7-10 days. The causa l organism wus i.;olated from the diseased bulb and ident ified as Fusarium so/ani (Mart.) Appe l and Wr. The fungus grew wc ll on pota to dextI:osc agar and hos t pulp agar ,Jnedia . Healthy sterilised onion bulbs were inoculated with the fungus by an 

On a Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus. J 758) New to Indian Waters

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On a Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus. J 758) New to Indian Waters

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