534 SUMMAKY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



studied the action of PenicilUum glaucum, Sterigmatocystis nigra, and 

 Aspergillus griseus on various organic acids. Their experiments tend 

 to show that the mode of action of the moulds is such, that the one 

 active isomeride is attacked more readily than the other, and that the 

 extent of the resolution depends solely on the difference of this rate of 

 attack. The view generally held, that the one isomeride is attacked 

 whilst the other remains untouched, does not appear to be correct. 



Fossil Fungi.*- — F. W. Oliver describes and figures two fossils from 

 Paleozoic rocks. Small round pockets that occur on the pinnules of 

 Alethopteris aquilina are filled with spore-like bodies which suggest some 

 minute Pyrenomycete. The other case resembles a Chytridineous 

 sporangium and bears a close resemblance to Grilletia Spho&rospermi. 

 It was found on the seed Polylophospermum. 



Ernest S. Salmon f criticises some of the fossil Erysipheas described 

 by Pampaloni from the " disodile " beds. He does not agree with the 

 conclusions of that writer. He finds on the slides submitted to him a 

 well preserved Hyphomycete which he describes as Cercosporites sp. 



Jahresbericht der Pflanzenkrankheiten.f — The volume for 1901 has 

 just been issued by M. Hollrung. The editor gives a sketch of each 

 subject with a list of the papers published in connection with it. He 

 includes harmful animals as well as harmful fungi in his discussion of 

 diseases. There is a copious index to the volume. 



Decomposition of Lactic Acid by Fungi. § — On solutions con- 

 taining free lactic acid such as sour milk, decoction of cucumber, and 

 sauerkraut, there appears often a surface mould composed of Oidium 

 lactis or one of two species of yeast. C. Wehmer has studied the effect 

 of the fungi on the solutions and finds that they destroy the acid and 

 in time render the solutions alkaline. 



Proteid-Formation in Moulds.]] — Czapek studied this question in 

 the higher plants. In moulds he finds that nitrogen is suitable in 

 proteid formation only when it is available in the formation of amino- 

 acids, and carbon when formed into hexose. These compounds are 

 therefore the preliminary stage of the formation of proteids. 



Fungi in Dairy Products.^ — Kurt Teichert found in salted butter 

 Oidium lactis, PenicilUum glaucum, and Mucor Mucedo. He tested their 

 comparative growth, and found that though sugar of milk afforded small 

 sustenance to Oidium and Mucor, it proved very nutritious for Penicil- 

 Uum. The latter mould made use of other sugars in a higher degree 

 than the other two experimented with. 



Fat-destroying Fungi of Seeds, &c.** — Wilhelm Bremer has 

 examined the fungi that aid in the destruction and disintegration of 



* New Phytol., ii. (1903) pp. 49-53 (1 pi.). 



t Journ. Bot., xli. (1903) pp. 127-30 (figs, in text). 



% J.B. Pflanzenkrankh. (Hollrung) iv. 1901 (1903) pp. viii. and 305. 



§ Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Ges., xxi. (1903) pp. 67-71. 



|| Beitr. Chem. Physiol. Path., iii. (1902) pp. 47-66. See also Centralbl. Bakt., 

 x. (1903) pp. 216-7. 



f Milch-Zeitung, 1902, No. 51. See also Centralbl. Bakt., x. (1903) pp. 219-20. 

 ** Inaug.-Diss. Minister, Wiirzburg, 1902, 8vo, 75 pp. See also Centralbl. Bakt., 

 x. (1903) pp. 156-7. 



