82 BIOCHEMISTRY OF FUNGI 



ability to produce sterol since, other conditions being uniform, 

 4 strains of A. oryzae yielded 0.54, 0.63, 0.76, and 0.98%. The 

 duration of the period of cultivation was also found by these 

 workers to influence the yield, since a given strain of A. oryzae 

 after 10 days had produced 0.63%, and after about 50 days 1.07 

 Reindel, Niederlander, and Pfundt (1937) found that best yields 

 from Torula were produced in a molasses medium, increased 

 yields being correlated with increased sugar concentration. Preuss 

 et al. (1931) also administered in daily doses 10 mg of dried, finely 

 ground fungus material to rachitic rats. They used A. niger, 

 A. oryzae, Marasmius oreades, Hypholoma incertum, and Seco- 

 tium acuminatum, with the result that each manifested antirachi- 

 tic action. Among other of the higher fungi that have been found 



O CO 



to contain vitamin D are Psalliota campestris, Hehella esculenta, 

 Boletus edidis, Cantharellus cibarius, C. clavatus, Hydnum ivibri- 

 catum, and Ganoderma hicidimi [IwanofT and ZwetkorT (1936)]. 



Evidence has also been accumulated to show that other vita- 

 mins are present in fungi and that some of them can be employed 

 to enrich animal diets. Gorcica, Peterson, and Steenbock ( 1934) 

 found vitamins Bi (thiamin), B 2 (riboflavin), and B 4 in Asper- 

 gillus sydoivii. Scheunert and Reschke [IwanofT and ZwetkofF 

 (1933)] found that Cantharellus cibarius is unusually rich in vita- 

 min A (C20H30O). Lederer [IwanofT and ZwetkorT (1936)] 

 studied the carotene (provitamin A) content of many yeasts and 

 fungi. Its wide distribution among fungi is indicated by his 

 finding it in the slime mold, Lycogala epidendrum, in the rust, 

 Puccinia coronifera, in the jelly fungus, Tremella mesenterica, 

 and in the near yeast, Torula rubra. 



Much interest also centers on the occurrence of growth sub- 

 stances, notably heteroauxin, in yeasts and certain fungi. An in- 

 troduction to this subject can be obtained from Kogl and Koster- 

 mans' report (1934) of the existence of heteroauxin in Rhizopus 

 nigricans and Aspergillus niger. It appears to be formed in the 

 breakdown of tryptophane, since none is produced in mineral-nu- 

 trient solutions. 



According to Xord and Mull (1945), a diet containing 10% 

 Fusariuui lini as a source of vitamins, with crystalline vitamin Bi 

 added, and 37% proteins from the same fungus serves excellently 

 for growth, reproduction, and lactation by mice. 



