ASYMMETRICA-FASCICULATA 507 



Florey (personal communication) reported a Penicillium, subsequently 

 identified by us as Penicillium cyclopium (NRRL 1899), to produce an 

 antibiotic effective against Staphylococcus; the substance was later found 

 to be penicillic acid. The mechanisms of antibiotic action of penicillic 

 acid and clavacin were compared by Geiger and Conn (1945). 



Birkinshaw, Callow, and Fischman (1931) demonstrated the production 

 of ergosterol in the mycelium of Penicillium piiherulum Bainier (Alsberg 

 and Black's strain). A 0.13 per cent yield in the dried mj^celium was re- 

 ported in a typical experiment. 



Anslow, Breen, and Raistrick (1940) reported the production of emudic 

 acid, and the hitherto undescribed co-hj'droxyemodin from the mycelium 

 of a culture reported to represent a strain of Penicillium cyclopium West- 

 ling. Emodic acid, CisHsOt, M.P. 363-365°C., forms orange needles which 

 are readily soluble in cold dilute sodium bicarbonate solution. w-Hydroxy- 

 emodin, CisHioOe, M.P. 288°C., forms dull orange needles, is insoluble in 

 sodium bicarbonate solution but readily soluble in cold sodium carbonate. 

 Based upon an exchange of material, co-hydroxyemodin was found to be 

 identical with an imnamed pigment isolated by Posternak (1939) from a 

 culture reported as P. ciireo-roseum. 



Oxford and Raistrick (1935) isolated t-erythritol in small yields from 

 both the mycelium and the metabolism solutions of strains of Penicillium 

 cyclopium. Westling and P. brevi-compactum Dierckx. The substance is 

 readily soluble in cold water and occurred in greatest concentration in the 

 early stages of growth. Some mannitol was likewise isolated from P. 

 cyclopium.. 



Campbell, et al. (1945) isolated from the mycelium of Penicillium pu- 

 heruhnn a photosensitive nitrogenous compound, C17H12N2O2, M.P. 220 C. 

 (decompn.). It gave phenol upon heating, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid 

 upon oxidation. The substance showed some antibiotic activity. 



Semeniuk and Ball (1937) reported Penicillium pubendum, with mem- 

 bers of the P. notatum-chrysogenum series, to be commonly isolated from 

 meat in cold storage in Iowa. Morgan and Moir (1933), in New Zealand, 

 found P. puberulum to be a chief cause of various types of discoloration in 

 Cheddar cheese. Neill (1935), also working in New Zealand, reported 

 P. puberulum to be a common mold on wooden boxes intended for ship- 

 ment of butter. Control measures were discussed. 



Penicillium cyclopium commonly causes a bulb rot in Scilla, Lilium, 

 and other liliaceous plants. The disease is particularly severe when bulbs 

 are stored at high temperatures and a high humidity (Singh, 1941). Infec- 

 tions generally enter through wounds but may develop from contact with 

 diseased bulbs (Macfarlane, 1939). DuPlessis (1936) found P. cyclopium 

 together with P. expansum and a form identified as P. elongatum to be 



