234 



the two processes coïncide. After the maximum dry weight has 

 been reached, the weight of the fungus begins to diminish, first 

 comparatively rapidly, later on very slowly. Sometimes It may 

 even remain constant for several days. 



The degree of acidity of the culture solution (8* col.) also rises 

 gradually until about the 13* day, then it sinks for some time and 

 after that it remains constant. The same naturally is true of the 

 mycélium extract (6* col.), if it has been extracted with the boiled 

 culture solution. Very often the hydrogen ion concentration rises 

 above the optimum, but I hâve already mentioned why this is no 

 drawback to the expenment (see page 232). We see however that 

 this is certainly the case for the extract which is got by extracting 

 the rubbed down mycélium with water. In this case the Pj^ is 

 always too low (4' col.). 



That this is really the case, can be seen by companng the values, 

 got of diastase concentration that were obtained at this low degree 

 of acidity (3 col.) and the values from the extract with the culture 

 fluid, where the P^ is optimal (see also tables 7 — 9; 2" and 

 3 col.; the P^ has not been reported there, but it does not differ 

 from the analogous ones in table 3). 



It is worth while to compare the production of diastase in the 

 mycehum with that in the culture solution. In both cases we find 

 a strong production up to about the 7* day. After that the dias- 

 tase concentration of the culture solution falls only to rise again 

 to a much higher level. The production of diastase in the mycélium 

 shows no regular nse or fall, but only great oscillations. Some- 

 thing like it can be seen in the tables no. 2, 4, 8 and 9, for resp. 

 4% glucose, l"o glucose, 0.25*^o starch + 2.5% glucose and 0.4 "o 

 starch + 1% glucose. 



In ail thèse cases, the diastase concentration in the mycélium, 

 compared to that of the culture solution, is so small, that it is al- 

 most negligible. My own impression is, that the fungus secrètes 

 its diastase into the surrounding medmm and that the diastase, 

 found in the mycélium, must be regarded as having remained there 

 more or less accidentall}-. 



