198 PHYSIOLOGY [Bot. Absts., Vol. VI, 



organism, growing in a medium rich in starch changes the latter into glucose by exoenzyme 

 activity. Glucose passes into the cell and is oxidized into acetic and butyric acids, and these 

 are in part reduced to the corresponding alcohols. — G. B. Rigg. 



1341. Steele, R. L., and A. C. McCakty. Further data concerning the alleged relation 

 of catalase to animal oxidations. Jour. Biol. Chem. 42: 269-272. 1920. — Variations in cata- 

 lase content and carbon dioxide production were not parallel in the rabbits and cats studied. 

 — G. B. Rigg. 



1342. Takamine, Jokichi, Jr., and Kokichi Oshima. The properties of a specially pre- 

 pared enzymic extract, Polyzime, comparing its starch liquefying power with malt diastase. 

 Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc. 42: 1261-1265. 1920. — "Polyzime is an aqueous extract of diastatic 

 enzymes, made by a specially prepared culture of the fungus Aspergillus Oryzea on media 

 consisting mainly of wheat bran." The diastatic power of Polyzime is preserved provided 

 the preparation is kept at a temperature below 40°. It acts best in a neutral or slightly acid 

 reaction. The optimum temperature for starch liquefaction by Polyzime is 50° for a digestion 

 interval of 30 minutes to 2 hours, and 40° for a digestion interval of 24 hours. It is 3 to 4 

 times stronger than ordinary malt extract, according to Wohlgemuth' s method. — J. M. 

 Brannon. 



METABOLISM (RESPIRATION) 



1343. Brooks, M. M. Comparative studies on respiration. X. Toxic and antagonistic 

 effects of magnesium in relation to the respiration of Bacillus subtilis. Jour. Gen. Physiol. 2: 

 331-336. 1920.— Concentrations of MgCl 2 up to 0.01 M have little effect upon the rate of res- 

 piration of Bacillus subtilis as measured by C0 2 production; at 0.03 M there is an increase in 

 the rate, while in the higher concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 M) there is a gradual decrease. There 

 is marked antagonism between MgCl 2 and NaCl, and a slight antagonism between MgCl 2 

 and CaCl 2 as measured by change in rate of respiration. Change in rate was not due to 

 changes in alkalinity of the medium. — H. E. Knowlton. 



GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, REPRODUCTION 



1344. Bezssonoff. Sur l'obtention experimental de la sexualite chez les champignons 

 et orientee sur la structure typique du plasma sexuel. [On the initiation of sexual repro- 

 duction in fungi by experimental means, and the existence of a cytoplasmic structure peculiar 

 to the sexual process.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 170: 288-290. 1920.— This is a study 

 of the effect of high concentrations of sucrose and citric acid in the nutrient media upon the 

 cytoplasmic structure and the stimulation of the fungus to produce sex organs. The author 

 holds that the sexual development is initiated by a retardation in oxidation processes. This 

 is brought about by a reduction in the available water due to the high concentration of the 

 nutritive solution. This conclusion is substantiated by cytological evidence. Numerous 

 mitochondrial granules are found in the hyphae of species of Aspergillus which are beginning 

 to form sex organs. These granules also appear abundantly in hyphae of the cultures in 

 highly concentrated media. Their presence seems to indicate a retardation of oxidation. — 

 C. H. and W. K. Farr. 



1345. MacDougal, D. T. Hydration and growth. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 58: 346-372. 

 Fig. 1-3. 1919. — This paper is a summary prepared by the author from a lengthy manuscript. 

 Conclusions are drawn from three lines of evidence, (a) "Measurements of the variations in 

 volume of stems, leaves and fruits," correlating the rate and course of growth with environ- 

 mental factors; (b) study of the composition and the arrangements of the components of 

 living matter including seasonal and developmental changes; and (c) "measurements of the 

 hydration reactions of tracts of living cell-masses" — "compared with the reactions of sections 

 of plates of colloids made up in simulation of the composition of plants." Living material 

 of plants is described as a "colloidal mixture consisting predominantly of pentosans, of a 

 lesser proportion of albumin, albumin derivatives and amino-compounds, and of a minor 



