232 



ON SOME FUNGI FROM THE AIR OF SUGAR MILLS AND 



THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO THE SUGAR 



INDUSTRY. 



BY 



Paul A. van der Bijl, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., 

 Professor of Mycology, University of Stellenbosch. 



Read July 12, 1921. 



Elsewhere I dealt with various fungi and bacteria isolated 

 from sugar*, and have indicated the part these micro-organisms 

 play in the "sweating" and the deterioration of sugar during 

 storage. Following up this investigation it appeared desirable also 

 to make a micro-biological analysis of the air of a sugar mill and 

 of a sugar store above the mill. For this purpose a series of 

 petri-dishes with a suitable medium was exposed for 15 minutes in 

 the above-mentioned places and the organisms which subsequently 

 developed in the petri-dishes noted. A number of bacteria and 

 fungi developed, but only the fungi were preserved. This phase 

 in the investigation of sugar deterioration has only recently been 

 begun, so that the number of fungi will, in time, probably be con- 

 siderably augmented. 



The chief fungi found were Penicillhim spp. and Aspergillus 

 spp., and some of them have already previously been isolated from 

 sugar from warehouses in Durban and were described in the publi- 

 cations-!' cited previously. 



The undermentioned were amongst the fungi found in such 

 a micro-biological analysis of the air of a mill and of a sugar store 

 above the mill : — 



Cladosporium sp. A similar fungus from sugar has also been 

 isolated by me and has been shown to be capable of 

 inverting sucrose. 



Penicillium divaricatam. This fungus also has been isolated 

 by me from sugar, and it is amongst the fungi dealt with 

 in "Studies on some fungi and the deterioration of 

 Sugar." It is a fungus frequently met with in sugar in 

 Durban. 



Aspergillus flavus. Though I have isolated several species of 

 Aspergilli from sugar I have not found this one. It has 

 been recorded from sugar by Anions from Java, and its 

 existence in the air of sugar mills here is hence of interest. 



*van der Bijl, P. A. " Preliminary Studies on some fungi and bacteria 

 responsible for the deterioration of S.A. Sugars." 

 Dept. Agric, Science Bulletin No. 12, 1920. 



fvan der Bijl, P. A. "Studies on some Fungi and the Deterioration of 

 Sugar." Dept. Agric, Science Bulletin No. 18, 1920. 



