328 Marine Microbiology 



over a period of five months, have demonstrated significant loss 

 in cordage strength correlated with length of exposure of the 

 material. Infestation of the cordage by the ascomycetous genus, 

 Lulworthia, is evident but degradation was absent. Whereas, 

 pure culture studies of other selected marine species, including 

 ZaJerion raptor and Zalerion xtjlestrix, and two Ascomycetes, 

 Torpedospora radiata and Halosphaeriopsis sp., show significant 

 production of cellulolytic activity and degradation of the cordage 

 at various periods early in the growth of the organisms. An 

 association between intensity of degradation and development 

 of reproductive processes is suggested. Variations in reponse of 

 the different isolates demonstrates the need for recognition of 

 specificity of activity for accurate interpretation of the contri- 

 bution of fungi to marine biology. 



REFERENCES 



1. Meyers, S. P. and Reynolds, E. S.: Cellulolytic activity in lignicolous 



marine Ascomycetes. Bull. Mar. Sci. Gulf and Caribbean, 9:441-455, 

 1959a. 



2. Meyers, S. P. and Reynolds, E. S.: Growth and cellulolytic activity of 



lignicolous Deuteromycetes from marine localities. Canad. }. Micro- 

 biol, 5:493-503, 1959b. 



3. Meyers, S. P., Prindle, B. and Reynolds, E. S.: Cellulolytic activity 



of marine fungi. Degradation of ligno-cellulose material. Tappi, 43: 

 534-538, 1960. 



4. Meyers, S. P. and Reynolds, E. S.: Cellulolytic activity of lignicolous 



marine Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes. Developments in Industrial 

 Microbiology, 1:157-168. Plenum Press, New York, 1960. 



5. Moore, R. T., and Meyers, S. P.: Thalassiomycetes III. The genus 



Zalerion. Canad. J. Microbiol 8:407-416, 1962. 



6. SoMOGYi, M.: Notes on sugar determination. /. Biol. Chem., i95: 19-23, 



1952. 



