Degradation of Lignoccllulose Material by Marine Fungi 319 



■HCL (aureomycin) 10 mg/ml, chloramphenicol 2.0 mg/ml, 

 and streptomycin sulfate 2.0 mg/ml. The sections of fiber, /8 

 to /4 inches long, selected for the above examination were sampled 

 variously from the entire length of cordage, including material 

 from inner and outer surfaces of single as well as combined 

 twists. Further treatment of certain samples collected included 

 thorough washing of the fiber pieces in successive tubes of sterile 

 sea water. 



Uniclonal growth de^ eloping on the isolation medium was 

 transferred to stock tubes of sea water agar media containing 

 1.0 per cent glucose and 0.25 per cent yeast extract. 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Cultural Studies 



Of the fungi studied previously, two ascomycetous species, 

 Ceriosporopsis halima and Torpedospora rodiota, grown in Manila 

 culture for 78 and 49 days respectively, exhibited greater fungal 

 activity, in terms of loss of tensile strength, than any of the 

 other species examined. Further studies of T. radiata and another 

 cellulolytic Ascomycete Halosphaeriopsis sp., are discussed be- 

 low. 



The degradation of Manila by these two Ascomycetes is 

 shown in Figures 1 and 2, Both species exhibited significant 

 attack upon the cordage early in their growth period. Develop- 

 ment of T. radiata and Halosphaeriopsis sp. is characterized by 

 copious production of perithecia over the surfaces of the twine. 

 In some tests, especially in the 88 day culture of T. radiata, all 

 of the sections of cordage examined broke in the area of maximal 

 perithecial crop. However, in other tests of this species, as well 

 as those of Halosphaeriopsis sp., the site of rupture of the cordage 

 was often not in the immediate region of reproduction. 



Tensile strength of cordage attacked by Halosphaeriopsis sp. 

 for 34 days was nearly equal to that recorded for periods of in- 

 festation as long as 85 days. In general, this species exhibits 

 cellulolytic activity and degradative ability much earlier in the 

 growth cycle than the other ascomycetous species examined. 

 Considerable unifomiity in fungal attack over the cordage length 



