MONOVERTICILLATA 221 



scured by more rapidly growing species, some question exists whether the 

 number of strains isolated gives an adequate measure of their presence in 

 nature. Species belonging to this group were especially abundant among 

 the Penicillia isolated from various types of military equipment under- 

 going deterioration under field and test conditions. Little evidence is at 

 hand which indicates a substantial and direct role in decay processes. It 

 is suggested, however, that these forms may be able to gain an early foot- 

 hold and hence pave the way for the invasion of subsequent and more 

 destructive forms. 



Macy and Steele (1934) included Penicillium. fellutanum among molds 

 studied as agents causing spoilage of butter. Van Beyma (1928b) reported 

 P. phaeo-janthincUum Biourge (regarded as P. fellutanum Biourge in this 

 Manual) capable of destroying the tannin material "gambir" produced in 

 Sumatra. Chrzaszcz and Tiukow (1931, 1932) reported P. citreo-nigrum 

 (regarded as P. citreo-viride in this Manual) to produce good yields of 

 citric acid. 



Species belonging to this series have been occasionally implicated in 

 diseases of plants, although little conclusive evidence of pathogenicity 

 has been forthcoming. Sinha (1943) isolated Penicillium fellutanum from 

 the surfaces of spoiled fruits in storage in Lucknow, India. Penicillium 

 decumbens has been reported as common on grapes in Palestine, effecting 

 damage through rot and a premature dropping of the berries. Morotch- 

 kovsk}' (1936), investigating the Penicillia isolated from stored sugar 

 beet roots, reported two new species, P. internum and P. necrosiferum , 

 which we believe are properly assignable to recognized members of the 

 present series (see p. 220 and p. 218). Both were most common in ne- 

 crotic peripheral fibrovascular bundles. Application of lime to the storage 

 piles was found to effectively combat the Penicillia. 



The pigmentation of certain members of this series is most striking, and 

 some biochemical studies of the responsible pigments have been made. 

 Posternak (1940 and 1941) reported a pigment (C16H12O6) designated 

 roseo-purpurine, to be produced by Penicillium roseo-purpureum Dierckx 

 on a Czapek-Dox medium. The pigment is an anthroquinone and has the 

 same general structure as citreo-roseine previously isolated from P. citreo- 

 roseum Dierckx. It crystallizes as yellow needles, melts aroiuid 280°C., 

 and, dissolved in carbonates, gives a red-brown color. Methods of iso- 

 lation and identification are presented. The cultures were reported also 

 to produce benzoic acid in the amount of ca. 20 mg./liter of culture me- 

 dium. From cultures (jf P. carmino-violaceum Dierckx, grown upon a 

 glycerol medium, Hind (194()a and b) isolated two anthroquinone pig- 

 ments, C16H12O6 and CooIIieOr, for which he proposed the names carviolin 

 and carviolacin respectively. Both represented monomethyl ethers and 



