326 



Marine Microbiology 



Pestalotia are common inhabitants of the Manila in the initial 

 week of the exposure period and the frequency suggests that 

 they are perhaps indigenous in the sea water environment. How- 

 ever, removal of the extraneous material from the surfaces of 

 the cordage through several washings in sterile sea water also has 

 reduced considerably the frequency of development of the var- 

 ious deuteromycetous fungi. This evidence, although prelimin- 

 ary, suggests that the latter group may be active largely on the 

 surfaces of the submerged cordage. It is possible that several 

 of these species function in the decomposition of the benthonic 

 material on the fiber surfaces. 



Strength deteiTninations were made of Manila attacked in 

 uniclonal culture by various isolates of Ltiltcorthia collected from 

 the cordage exposed at The Marine Laboratory pier. Although 

 vigorous mycelial growth was apparent in the culture flasks after 

 the termination of the test at twenty-four days, the majority of the 

 eight isolates examined did not cause significant degradation of 

 the cordage (Fig. 6). The average tensile stiength varied from 

 73 to 92 pounds, the latter being well within the range of the 

 control cordage. In cultural studies with Liilwarthia floridana. 



CONTROL F4e3 F484 F485 F487 F477 F490 F507 



Fig. 6. Degradation of cordage by Lulworthia sp. 



