466 TJmversity of California Publications m Botawy \yoi,. 7 



3. EXTREME HARDINESS OF THE FUNGUS 



Schizophyllum is able to persist under very adverse circumstances. 

 Its unusual vitality is displayed in three ways: (1) the sporophores 

 are able to endure long periods of drought; (2) the mycelium can 

 grow upon almost any moist organic substance; and (3) the sporo- 

 phores possess the ability to regenerate lost parts. 



Buller in 1909 called attention to the long period over which the 

 sporophores can retain their vitality. He stated that "whilst in the 

 dried condition a fruit body can retain its vitality for at least two 

 years, and, with intermittent revivals, for at least three years. ' ' Later 

 (1912) he and Cameron found that the fruit bodies could endure 

 sudden changes of temperature, suspension in a vacuum, extreme cold, 

 or a long period in darkness. In this respect they resemble certain 

 seeds and mold spores. 



A mycelium produced either from spores or pieces of sporophores 

 will grow upon a whole series of substances. Some of the materials 

 upon which the hyphae grow well are such starchy media as potato 

 tubers, com meal, rice, "Cream of "Wheat," and lima beans; sugary 

 media such as beets, prune juice, and grapes; upon agar and gelatin 

 nutritive media; and upon dung, a wood decoction, or dead leaves. 

 Kellogg (1915) grew the fungus from spore to spore, or through all 

 of its life history, upon sterilized potato plugs in glass flasks, showing 

 that Schizophyllum can exist in an entirely saprophytic condition. 

 Earlier Rumbold (1910) had produced sporophores on bread from 

 spore cultures, but, although these bore basidia on a definite hymenium, 

 no spores developed. 



Experiments have been carried on to determine to what extent the 

 sporophores can regenerate lost parts. The fruit bodies studied were 

 grown upon blocks of Acacia wood kept in moist chambers in the 

 laboratory. In one case about one-half of the pileus at the distal ends 

 of mature sporophores was removed by cutting with a sharp knife. 

 Some of the specimens were left in the original position, and others 

 were inverted by reversing the position of the blocks of wood upon 

 which they were growing. Where the inutilated sporophores were 

 left in position growth ceased at the cut edge, but continued in a 

 normal manner, thoifgh rather slowly, at the pileus margins to the 

 side. Most of the inverted specimens ceased growth altogether. In 

 one case, however, in a few days the margin at one side began to turn 

 and grow outward in a horizontal direction with the hymenium facing 



