Degradation of Lignocellulose Material by Marine Fungi 321 



was evident by the rather low average standard deviation of 

 these tests of ±8.5. In earher work using the Scott Tester, and 

 longer cordage units where more irregular fungal infesta- 

 tion and reproduction was apparent, strength tests showed 

 greater standard deviations. Examination of cellulolytic 

 activity of cell-free filtrates from cultures of Halosphaeriopms 

 sp., 24 to 81 days old, gave reducing sugar productions of from 

 0.155 to 0.308 mg/ml/24 hr. No significant increase in cellulolytic 

 activity was observed with older cultures. 



While breakage of the cordage often occurred in areas where 

 reproduction was scant or absent, in general, especially in older 

 cultures of these two species, the correlation between reproduc- 

 tion and immediate site of rupture, noted in earlier work, has 

 been substantiated here. However, it should be noted that in 

 various ascomycetous fungi, particularly in certain species of 

 Ltihvorthia, intensity of reproduction does not correlate neces- 

 sarily with vigor of degradation of the cordage. It is apparent 

 that differences in growth and cellulolytic activity among the 

 various species of Ascomycetes must be given careful study. 

 These studies as well as further examinations of the fungus/sub- 

 strate area in the region of maximum reproduction by T. radiata 

 and Halosphaeriopsis sp. are in progress. 



Studies of Species of Zalerion 



A comparative studv has been made of the general cellulolytic 

 activity of a marine deuteromycetous taxon with that exhibited 

 by various marine Ascomycetes. Representatives of the Deutero- 

 mycete genus examined, Zalerion, are extremely abundant in 

 northern and temperate marine areas, although noticeably ab- 

 sent in warmer oceanic areas. A recent description (5) of the 

 taxon has included studies of cellulolytic activity of the different 

 species on CMC 50 T and Walseth cellulose. The two species 

 Z. raptor and Z. xijlestrix discussed here, have consistently shown 

 high cellulolytic activity on these cellulosic substrates. Further 

 studies of their degradation of cordage and associated enzymatic 

 activity are reported below. 



Cell-free filtrates from cultures of Z. raptor and Z. xylestrix 

 were made initially at three and five days respectively. 

 Each sample, except the three and seven dav samples of 



