Cellular Growth 123 



changes induced by colchicine. Methylene blue was decolorized more 

 rapidly as e\'iclence of some basic metabolic change. 



Tlicre is a possibility that colchicine may serve as a source of 

 energy. Another conclusion led to the idea that the drug serves as a 

 buffer against the toxic substances accimiulating in an active cultine. 

 Filamentous fungi from a variety of families'* have been tested for 

 j)ossible induction of polyploidy. A polyploid strain of Penicillium 

 twtatutn was isolated in one laboratory.''- This new strain was sup- 

 posed to yield more penicillin than the original strain. The poly- 

 ploids were obtained by another group who rechecked these specific 

 types. Polyploidy and increased jDenicillin Avas not confirmed (Table 

 4.6) .11" 



TABLE 4.6 

 Action of Colchicine on Yeasts and Other Fungi 



Species Results Reference 



Alloniyces javanicus changes induced 4—6 



Aspergillus spp mutants 4-1 32 



Botrytis cinerea hypertrophy of hyphae 4-145 



Cnprinus radians conidia influenced 4-144 



Diaporthe pcrniciosa no conidial formation 4-145 



Mucoi sp no change 4-9 



Penicillium notalum polyploids 4-52 



P. notatum no polyploids 4-119 



Psilocybe semilanccolata conidia changed A-\AA 



Saccharomyces cerevisiac no changes noted 4-4 



4-83 

 4-144 

 4-75 

 4-5 



^. cerevisiae . .cytological changes 4-126 



cells enlarge 4-39 



methylene blue decolorized more 



rapidly 4-41 



stimulation 4-116 



inhibition 4-54 



Slropharia merderia conidia changed 4-144 



Verticillium dahliae no conidial formation 4-145 



"Wide range of families" no change 4-9 



