SUMMARY "l CI RRENT RBSEARCHES RELATING TO 



Micro-organisms and Fermentation.* — The fourth edition of this 

 k l>\ Alfred Jorgensen has recently been issued, and has now heen 

 aslated mi" English by S. II. Davies. It is concerned chiefly with 

 the micro-organisms of the fermentation industry. Descriptions are 

 given both of useful and injurious yeasts, moulds, bacteria, etc. Full 

 accounts are given of the methods found most useful in examination 

 and in- ion of these minute plants as they occur iu nature or in 



artificial cultures. Attention is also paid to their use in various economic 

 proi in fermentation, etc. The book is illustrated by figures in 



the text, and a very full bibliography of the subject is given. 



Geotropism and Phototropism in Fungi.f — A. de Jaczewski cites 

 a case of geotropism in Polyporus foment arius following the cutting down 

 of the trunk on which it grew. The original hymenophore was covered 

 by a thick sterile layer, while two new plants, face downwards, were 

 formed on each side of the old one. He records several other instances 

 of unusual growth due to the influence of light. 



Chemistry of the Higher Fungi.} — Julius Zellner constantly found 

 maltose in wood-inhabiting fungi belonging to the genera Polyporus, 

 Armillaria, Xypholoma, Dsedalea, and Trametes. In Trametes suaveolens 

 and Polyporm igniarius he found a ferment that split salicin. He 

 thought it might be similar to one that Sigmund had determined in 

 willows and poplars that acted on salicin, but not on any other glucosides. 

 A series of tests were made, and Zellner concluded that the two ferments 

 must be considered as distinct. 



In a second paper § the author gives the results of his chemical 

 examination of maize smut. He confirmed previous work as to the 

 presence of trimethylamin and sclerotin acid. He gives a list of other 

 -11 list iinccs also found in that fungus. 



In a third paper || devoted to the same subject, Zellner treats of the 

 Bymbiosia of host and parasite, and tests each to see if their cell-products 

 correspond. He found that very few cell-products pass unchanged from 

 host to parasite. The chemical composition of the parasite is determined 

 by its systematic position, and by the substratum, and there are also 

 sporadic substances formed. There are no principal differences proved 

 between the cell-products of saprophytic and parasitic fungi. The 

 parasite acts on the host by ferments ; possibly there may be other pro- 

 cesses. Parasitic fungi excrete substances that are harmless or poisonoug, 

 and in the latter case give rise to pathological phenomena. Synthetic 

 processes in parasites are almost totally unknown. An examination of 

 fungi parasitic on animals might do much to enlighten us as to the 

 chemistry of parasitism. 



Ambrosia Fungus.lf— F. W. Neger has taken up again his work on 

 the fungi that are cultivated by Asphondylia beetles inside the galls, as 



► London : Charles Griffin & Co., Ltd., Exeter Street, Strand (1911) xi. and 

 489 pp. (101 figs.). V ' 



\ Bull. Soc. Mycol. France, xxvi. (1910) pp. 404-8 (6 figs.). 



B. k. Akad. wiss. Wien, Math.-Nat. Kl., cxviii. (1909) pp. 439-46. 

 Anz. k. Akad. wiss. Wien, Math.-Nat. Kl., No. 10 (1910) p. 116. 

 II Tom. eit., pp. 116-17. See also Hedwigia, 1. (1910) Beibl., pp. 107-8. 

 1 Rev. Deutsch. Bot. Ges., xiv. (1910) pp. 455-80 (1 pi.). 



