STUDIES IN WOOD DECAY. 



II. Enzyme Action in Polyporus Volvatus Peck and Fomes 

 Igniarius (L.) Gillet. 



By henry SCHMITZ. 



{From the Laboratory of Forest Products, School of Forestry, University of Idaho, 



Moscow.) 



(Received for publication, April 25, 1921.) 



The present paper is the third of a series, ^'^ of papers dealing with 

 the enzyme action in the wood-destroying fungi. It is the second 

 of a series-^ of papers to be issued by this Laboratory dealing with 

 the decay of wood in the broadest sense. 



From the standpoint of parasitism, Polyporus volvatus is one of 

 the most interesting of the wood-destroying fungi. Although no 

 inoculation experiments have been made, numerous observations 

 tend to confirm the opinion of the writer that Polyporus volvatus 

 is truly parasitic. Throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho 

 it is not at all unusual to find fruiting bodies of Polyporus volvatus 

 appearing in great numbers over practically the entire surface of the 

 trunk of Douglas fir, white fir, and western hemlock. This condi- 

 tion may be observed on trees still having a green, healthy foliage 

 as well as on trees which to all appearances have been killed by the 

 fungus. 



^ Schmitz, H., and Zeller, S. M., Studies in the physiology of the fungi IX. 

 Enzyme action in Armillaria mellea VahL, Daedalea confragosa (Bolt.) Fr., and 

 Polyporus lucidus (Leys.) Fr., Ann- Missouri Bot- Garden, 1919, vi, 193-200. 



^ Schmitz, H., Enzyme action in Echinodontium tinctorium Ellis and Everhardt, 

 /. Gen. Physiol, 1919-20, ii, 613. 



^ Schmitz, H., and Daniels, A. S., Studies in wood decay I. Laboratory tests 

 on the relative durability of some western coniferous woods with particular refer- 

 ence to those growing in Idaho, School of Forestry, Univ. Idaho, Bull. 1, 1921, 

 1-12. 



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