64 PHYSIOLOGY [BoT. Absts., Vol. VII, 



419. TocHiNAi, YosHiHiKO. Studies on the food relations of Fusarium lini. Ann. 

 Phytopath. Soc. Japan 1^:22-33. 1920. — The following substances were tested as sources 

 of carbon: nine carbohydrates — viz., glucose, levulose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, lactose 

 soluble starch, inulin, and arabin — in 2 per cent solutions; six organic acids — viz., malic, 

 succinic, maleic, fumaric, racemic, and citric — in 1 and 0.1 percent solutions; and glycerine, 

 mannite, vanillin, thymol, and a-napthol in 2 per cent solutions. The chemicals were added 

 in the above indicated quantities to a standard nutritive solution prepared as follows, 

 NH.NOs, 1 g. ; KH2PO4, 0.50 g. ; Mg SO4, 0.25 g. ; and redistilled water 1000 g. As sources of 

 nitrogen, ammonium sulfate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, peptone, and urea in 2 per 

 cent solutions, and acetamide, succinamide, dicyandiamide, and asparagine in 1 per cent 

 solutions were tested. Each chemical was added to a standard nutritive solution of the fol- 

 lowing composition : KH2PO4, 0.50 g. ; MgS04, (crystal) 0.25 g. ; cane sugar, 20 g. ; and redistilled 

 water 1000 cc. Results were checked at the end of two weeks growth. The carbohy- 

 drates tested gave the following dry weights in grams of mycelia: inulin 0.299; glucose 

 0.274; arabin 0.147; maltose 0.151; soluble starch 0.125; levulose 0.084; galactose 0.072; 

 sucrose 0.044; and lactose 0.039. Organic acids as sources of carbon were unfavorable to the 

 fungus, which could develop only in low percentages, such as 0.1 per cent. As indicated 

 by the growth made, the organic acids may be arranged as follows in descending order: 

 succinic, malic, citric, fumaric, maleic, and racemic. In the nutritive solution containing 

 racemic acid the d-tartaric was more readily assimilated than the 1-tartaric acid, as 

 determined by the change in optical activity. Mannite was a favorable source of carbon, 

 0.24 g. (dry weight) of mycelium being produced, while glycerine gave but 0.024 g. The 

 phenol derivatives prevented growth. Organic nitrogen compounds are far better sources 

 of nitrogen than inorganic compounds, the dry weights of mycelium in grams being as fol- 

 lows: peptone 0.448; urea 0.251; sodium nitrate 0.198; ammonium phosphate 0.194; ammo- 

 nium sulphate 0.038; and potassium nitrate 0.012. The amides are generally good sources 

 of nitrogen for this fungus, the following dry weights in grams of mycelia being obtained: 

 asparagine 0.288; acetamide 0.173; dicyandiamide 0.516; and succinamide 0.143. — L. M. 

 Massey. 



METABOLISM (ENZYMES, FERMENTATION) 



420. Andersox, J. A., E. B. Fred, and W. H. Peterson. The relation between the num- 

 ber of bacteria and acid production in the fermentation of xylose. Jour. Infect. Diseases 27: 

 281-292. 1920. — The rate of growth of Lactobacillus pentoaceticus was compared with its rate 

 of acid production in the fermentation of xylose. Both the plate and the direct counting 

 method of Breed were used for the counting of the bacteria. The volatile (acetic) and the 

 nonvolatile (lactic) acids were determined. It was found that the acid production is most 

 rapid during the period of maximum growth of the organisms, and a decline in the rate of 

 growth is accompanied by a decrease in acid production. The bacterial numbers reach a 

 maximum within 48 hours after inoculation, while the maximum acidity is found only after 

 several days. In the presence of calcium carbonate, the bacteria multiply more rapidly 

 and reach a higher number, accompanied by a more nearly complete fermentation. — Selman 

 A. Waksman. 



421. Sherman, H. C, I. D. Garard, and V. K. La Mer. A further study of the process 

 of purifying pancreatic amylase. Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc. 42: 1900-1907. 19_~0. 



ORGANISM AS A WHOLE 



422. Anonymous. The tenacity of prickly pear seedlings. Agric. Gaz. New South Wales 

 31:571. 1920.— Prickly pear, Opimtia sps. seedlings without water remained alive for 12 

 months in an office. — L. R. Waldron. 



423. Chemin, E. Observations anatomiques et biologiques sur le genre "Lathraea." 

 [Anatomical and biological observations on the genus "Lathraea."] Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. X. 

 2: 125-272. / pL, 88 fig. 1920.— See Bot. Absts. 7, Entry 319. 



