220 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
Development of the Mucedineae.* — M. L. Matruchot has studied the 
very difficult problem of the polymorphism of some genera of Mucedineae. 
Of Helicosporium lumbricoides he finds in cultivation no less than five 
forms : — (1) a Helicomyces-iorai with non-cutinized membrane, unstable 
in certain media; (2) a form allied to Coniothecium ; (3) one with sphe- 
rical sclerotes ; (4) one with budding mycele ; (5) a Stemphylium-iorm. 
Under special conditions Helicosporium can be transformed into Stem - 
phylium, and this form maintains itself indefinitely in suitable media. 
Ceplialothecium roseum presents in certain media a Pseudo-verticillium 
form. Botryosporium hamatum is identified with Pachybasium hamatum 
and Verticillium hamatum. 
Gonatobotrys is nothing but a developmental form of GEdocephalum ; 
it may consist either of simple (6r. simplex) or branched ( G . ramosa ) 
filaments. 
A new species, Fusarium polymorphum , has four distinct reproductive 
organs — mono- or pluricellular conids, aerial chlamydospores, mycelial 
chlamydospores, and arthrospores, the last previously unknown in this 
genus. 
A new genus, Costantinella , is characterized by having spreading 
sterile dusky filaments which are irregularly branched and septated, and 
spherical hyaline conids springing singly from sterigmas arranged in a 
crest on the upper part of the basid. 
Cell-nucleus and Spores of Yeast. | — Ur. H. Moeller, from obser- 
vations made on carefully prepared specimens of yeast, finds that each 
cell is possessed of one nucleus which presents considerable variations 
as to size, and also as to position. In the isolated round cells it may be 
in the centre or up against the wall, while in the resting cells it is 
more frequently observed towards the poles. Neither nucleolus nor nu- 
clear membrane can be demonstrated in stained specimens, but the sub- 
stance composing the nucleus is probably a thin viscid fluid exhibiting 
amoeboid movements. The granules or microsomes are not easily de- 
monstrated at the same time as the nucleus. The forms resembling 
spores are declared not to be spores in that they possess neither nucleus 
nor membrane, and it is concluded that yeasts do not form spores and 
are devoid of fructification. 
Koji, a Ferment producing 18 per cent, of Alcohol. J— Herren A. 
Schrohe, G. Liebscher, and Y. Magerstein repeat that Koji§ will 
produce 18 per cent, of alcohol from mash. The process has been 
patented in America; and, according to the articles of the patent, Koji, 
or better still, a mixture of Koji and Moto, are added to the wort or 
mash to be fermented. Moto is made by mixing 40 per cent. Koji with 
60 per cent, of starch paste and an equal volume of water. The mix- 
ture is then allowed to ferment for 30 to 40 days at a temperature not 
exceeding 37°. 
* ‘ Rech. s. 1. developpement de quelques Mucedinees,’ Paris, 111 pp. and 8 pis. 
See Bull. Soc. Bot. France, xxxix. (1892) Rev. Bibl., p. 141. 
f Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., xii. (1892) pp. 537-50 (1 pi.). 
X Zeitschr. f. Spiritus-Industrie, xiv. (1891) pp. 96 and 103; Oesterr. Landw. 
Wochenbl., xvii. (1891) p. 220. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., xii. 
(1892) pp. 467-8. § Of. this Journal, 1890, p. 755. 
