CURRENT LITERATURE 
NOTES FOR STUDENTS 
Physiology of fungi.—The increasing attraction of this subject is evi- 
denced by the number of papers that have appeared recently. The Graduate 
Laboratory of the Missouri Botanical Garden is publishing a series of such 
papers, 4 of which are noted herewith. 
Duccar and Davis' deal with the often investigated problem of nitrogen 
fixation. Using a method by which the fungi were grown, digested, and dis- 
tilled in the same flask without transfer, they were unable to demonstrate 
nitrogen fixation by Aspergillus niger, Macrosporium commune, Penicillium 
digitatum, P. expansum, and Glomerella Gossypii. In cultures of Phoma Betae 
on mangel and on sugar beet decoction with sugar, a nitrogen gain of 3.022- 
7.752 mg. was established, which they take to be a definite poe. of fixation. 
A good review of the literature is includ 
ZELLER? reports the following shee tadl as occurring in a specially pre- 
pared enzyme powder from the wood destroying fungus Lenzites saepiaria: 
esterases, maltase, invertase, raffinase, emulsin, tarmase, diastase, inulanase, 
ligninase, cellulase, hemicellulase, pectinase, urease, hippuricase, nuclease, pro- 
teinase (both tryptic and ereptic), rennetase, oxidase, and catalase. Pectase 
and lactase were not demonstrated, and only slight indications were found of 
the presence of amidase. A comparative study of the enzymes occurrin 
sporophoral and mycelial tissue showed that the important metabolic processes 
are carried on in the latter. 
ZELLER’ also deals with the physical properties of wood in relation to 
decay. On the basis of an extensive series of tests, he concludes, contrary to 
the opinion of other workers in this field, that resin is no safe index of the 
durability of the 3 species of yellow pine investigated. If it increases durability 
at all, it does so more by its waterproofing effect than by the toxic effect on 
the growth of fungi sometimes claimed for it. Asa more reliable and practical 
* Duccar, B. M., and Davis, A. R., Studies in rie eee of the fungi. 
I. Nitrogen fixation. ‘Ao Mo. Bot. Cand: 3:413-417. 
* ZELLER, 5S. M., Studies in the physiology of the “hay Il. Lenzites saepiaria 
Fries., with special reference to enzyme activity. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 3:439-512. 
1916. i 
3——_——-, Studies in the physiology of the fungi. III. Physical ieee of 
wood in relation to decay by Lenzites saepiaria. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 4:93-164. 
IQI7. 
