The Fungi— Molds 365 



INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS 

 Man has capitalized upon the abihties of fungi to attack com- 

 plex materials, and many industries are founded upon the produc- 

 tion of end products by the action of molds and other fungi. The 

 ancient process of retting flax and hemp to free the fibers of the 

 binding substance, pectin, is a hydrolytic action brought about by 

 Mucor species and by the enzymatic activity of certain anaerobic 

 bacteria. Aspergillus niger is the mold that is instrumental in 

 making gallic acid, which in turn is employed in manufacturing 

 ink. Starch is acted upon by Aspergillus oryzae, and diastase is 

 recovered in the process. The flavor of roquefort cheese comes 

 from the formation of caproic acid through the breakdown of butter 

 fat by Penicillium roqueforti. When casein is attacked by Peni- 

 cillium camemberti, the characteristic flavor of camembert cheese 

 is the result. Aspergillus niger is employed in the manufacture of 

 citric acid from cane sugar. The antibiotic, penicillin, is produced 

 through the action of Penicillium notatum. This is only a brief 

 list of some of the products manufactured through the biological 

 activities of molds. It should become apparent, therefore, that 

 controlled spoilage by fungi is a valuable thing from the standpoint 

 of both industry and medicine. 



FUNGUS DISEASES 



Unfortunately for plants, lower animals, and man fungus dis- 

 eases are widespread and sometimes are difficult to control. Once 

 a fungus disease becomes firmly established it may be relatively 

 resistant to the therapeutic measures usually employed. With the 

 widespread use of antibiotics in combatting bacterial diseases, fungi 

 are better able to establish themselves, and they flourish when 

 bacterial competition diminishes. Fungus diseases are called my- 

 coses, and many of the etiological agents fall under the class of 

 Fungi Imperfecta Some mycoses occur only in restricted parts of 

 the world, while others are geographically widespread. 



In naming fungus diseases the suffix mycosis is added to the 



