A new nematode trapping species of Dactylaria

Summary The paper deals with the isolation of a new predacious fungusDactylaria dasguptaii Shome &Shome from Indian soil. The fungus has been studied both in culture and soil. The predatory, morphological and reproductive characters of the new species accompanied by latin diagnosis has been described with illustrative diagrams.     

Scytinostroma galactinum as a pathogen of woody plants

Scytinostroma galactinum (Fr.)Donk is the fungus commonly known asCorticium galctinum (Fr.)Burt. Although it occurs as a saprobe on woody plants and plant debris, it also has been considered by several authors as an active pathogen that causes a white root and butt or collar rot. During the summer of 1970, it was found near Baltimore and also in Montgomery County, Maryland, under circumstances that seemingly provide additional records of pathogenicity. Several other Maryland records are cited, and many Canadian studies have been reviewed.S. galactinum has a distinctive dextrinoid mycelium, which is characteristic enough to permit a tentative identification even in the absence of other features. Outstanding elements of the basidiocarp are the dextrinoid hyphae and slender gloeocystidia. In culture, dextrinoid fiber hyphae and papillate oil-bearing hyphae with clamp connections are characteristic. These and other features of the basidiocarp and culture serve in the characterization of this fungus, which is economically significant and widely distributed.     

Curvularia leaf blight of bajra (pennisetum typhoides Stapf.) in India

Summary The symptoms of leaf blight of bajra (Pennisetum typhoides Stapf.) from India, its cause which has been identified asCurvularia penniseti (Mitra)Boedijn var.poonensis n. var. together with the morphology and host range of the fungus etc. have been given.Part of the work submitted by ShriP. L. Patil for M. Sc. (Agric.), University of Poona, under the guidance of Dr.N. B. Kulkarni.The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof.M. Sulaiman for providing necessary facilities for this work.     

Pseudoeurotium globosum n. sp., a new ascomycete from Indian soils

Summary The namePseudoeurotium globosum Rai andTewari n. sp. has been given to a fungus isolated from soil collected from the banks of a stream in village Harchandpur, District Rae Bareli, (U.P.) India. This form is distinguished from any other described so far in this genus, in having multisporous asci with large globose ascospores. P.globosum n. sp. inhabits a specialised habitat, and this along with the fact that it was isolated only byWarcup's Soil-plate Method, makes it an ecologically interesting form.     

A physiological study of Saksenaea vasiformis Saksena

Summary The physiological conditions governing growth and sporulation ofSaksenaea vasiformis Saksena, a fungus with outstanding morphological features quite peculiar for Mucorales, were determined. Earlier studies made byTiwari (1955) on a strain of the same species had shown that this fungus is incapable of sporulating on any synthetic medium normally employed for growing fungi.The fungus had been found to have a high tolerance for very low and high pH values. It showed maximum growth at two pH values, one near neutral point, at pH 6, and another at high alkaline pH value, i.e., pH 11. Reason for this behaviour of this fungus has already been discussed. The most suitable temperature for the growth of the fungus was found to be between 30–35° C.Nearly all the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur sources which generally favour growth of fungi were found to support vegetative growth of this fungus as well. However, sporulation in this fungus had peculiar nutritional needs. Only some of the carbon sources, viz., arabinose, rhamnose, sorbose, galactose, lactose and citric acid which supported poor growth, were found to support good or excellent sporulation. But it may be stated that not all carbon sources supporting poor growth could induce sporulation of the organism. Also none of the nitrogen or sulphur sources could induce the fungus to sporulate in presence of glucose as carbon source.     

Researches on the etiological agents of the american blastomycosis

Summary and conclusion We have been able to establish typical characteristics of the species, in artificial culture media, of the fungus causingPosadas-Wernicke's disease. Our work is base on the study of ten strains of the fungus and on their retrocultures — obtianed by inoculation of these strains in laboratory animals — in variosu culture media, among them cornmeal agar (Emmons media) which in our opinion is a medium indispensable for the differencing and for the classification of the fungus from other agents which produce syndromes of a like nature.A revision was made of the literature of the morphology of the causal agent ofPosadas-Wernicke's disease and an analysis of the predominant and characteristic fructification of the fungus. In attention to the above facts, we think that the fungus in question should be included in the genusAleurisma Link, 1809. Therefore, admitting the validity of this genus, we believe that the name of the etiological agent ofPosadas-Wernicke's disease should be changed toAleurisma immitis, the diagnosis being justified by the microscopic study inEmmons media and completed by the forms found in a medium rich in glycides. The diagnoses is the following: Aleurisma immitis. — In substratis pauperibus gignuntur hyphis mycelicis hyalinis, septatis, satis ramosis, ramulis in angulo pene recto; aleuriis abundantissimis, valde simplicibus, centralibus et regulariter seriatis, vel apicalibus, rarissime lateralibus, sessilibus, rare pedicellatis, rectangularibus, hyalinis, aliquoties in racemis et thyrsis dispositis. Spirae saepe videntur. In substratis carbohydratis plenis, chlamydosporis intercalaribus et apicalibus abundantibus; aleuriis et spiris nec numerosis aut typicis quam in pauperibus substratis.(so called Coccidioidomycosis)     

Fungi causing plant diseases at jabalpur (madhya pradesh)-IX

Summary The present paper describes 6 foliicolous fungi from Jabalpur (India). These includeAsterina lawsoniae Syd. on leaves ofLawsonia alba, Diplocarpon rosae Wolf. onRosa sp.,Cercospora jujubae Chowdhury onZizyphus jujuba andCercospora subsessilis Henn. &Nym. onAzadirachta indica, new fungus records for Madhya Pradesh;Asterostomella strophanti Henn. on leaves ofFlacourtia ramontchii, a new fungus for the country andCorynespora cassiicola (Berk. &Curt.)Wei. onClerodendron inerme, a new host record.     

Comments on the rarity of tinea capitis in india

Summary Cause of the rarity oftinea capitis in India was surmised byAjello to be due to the use of vegetable hair-oils as hair-dressings by Indians. In this paper, experimental evidence has been brought forward to show that one of the hair-fungi,Microsporon gypseum, never penetrates into the human hairs smeared with mustard oil though hyphal filaments ofM. gypseum copiously encircled only the outer surfaces of hairs experimented upon. Clinically also, not a single instance oftinea capitis at our Outdoor Hospital has been noted during the last five years. Completely defatted hairs show three kinds of hair-digestion.The slide-culture technique ofLü (1962) was adopted for the experiments. This technique allowed continuous microscopic examination of hairs throughout. This reveals the first attack of the fungus and progress of the invasion.The first entry of a dermatophyte into the keratin of the hair has been discussed. The properties and nature of keratinolytic enzymes remain, however, undiscovered.     

The effects of culture media on Saprolegnia antigens

In a previous paper (Hodkinson &Hunter, 1970a) we reported that salmon, suffering from a disease called ulcerative dermal necrosis, appeared to have precipitating antibodies to the mycelium of a fungus associated with their diseased skin lesions. This was confirmed when antigens were prepared from pure cultures of the fungus, a species ofSaprolegnia (Hodkinson &Hunter, 1970b). In this paper we describe the effects of culture media on the antigenicity ofSaprolegnia mycelium, as detected by double gel diffusion with salmon sera.     

Some foliicolous ectoparasites and associated fungi from Jabalpur (M.P.) — I

Summary The present paper describes nine ectoparasitic foliicolous fungi from Jabalpur (M.P.) India. These include four new species viz.Asterina woodfordiae Sahni onWoodfordia fruticosa (L.)Kurz.,Schiffnerula fici Sahni, onFicus infectoria Roxb.,Sarcihella fumosus Sahni onAegle marmelos Corr. andSarcinella odinae Sahni onOdina wodier Roxb.,Acremoniella sarcinellae Pat. &Har.,Fumago vagans Pers.,Stigmella palawanensis Syd. andSchiffnerula cassiae are new fungus records for this country.Mitteriella zizyphina Syd. has been recorded onZizyphus xylopyra Willd., for the first time from this state.Z. xylopyra is a new host record forM. zizyphina.     

Monocentric fungi on species of rhizosolenia from saline habitats

Summary Eight monocentric fungi are reported in two provisionally identified species ofRhizosolenia from sea-water. Only two species are assigned specific names. These areRhizophydium planktonicum Canter andR. fragilariae Canter. A fungus with depressed-globose sporangia is included as a form ofR. fragilariae. Two unidentified species ofChytridium are reported. A fungus tentatively assigned toZygorhizidium and a form provisionally assigned toPetersenia are also reported and described insofar as their characteristics are known.     

Fungi causing plant diseases at Jabalpur (M.P.) XI

Summary In this paper eight foliicolous fungi have been described from Jabalpur (M.P.) India. Out of these, two viz.Phoma jasminicola Agarwal &Sahni onJasminum sambac Ait. andPhyllostictina anthocephali Agarwal &Sahni onAnthocephalus indicus Rich. are new species and three, viz.Pestalotia algeriensis (Sacc. &Berl.)Guba onBorassus flabellifer L.,Pestalotia sorbi Pat. onCarissa spinarum A.DC. andBartalinia robillardioides Tassi onJasminum sambac Ait. andCarissa carandas L. are new fungus records for this country.Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. exFr.)Grove onJasminum sambac Ait.,Glomerella cingulata (Stonem.)Spauld. &Schr. onFicus glomerata Roxb. andIchnocarpus frutescens Br. are new host records.Stigmina phaeocarpa (Mitter)Ellis onBauhinia variegata L. is a new fungus record for the state.     

Taxonomy of Haplosporangium parvum

Summary A strain ofHaplosporangium parvum has been isolated from Italian soil. It has been comparatively studied with six North American and a Korean strain. Two American and the Italian strains are thermophilic (opt. about 35° C) while the other four grow better at temperatures around 20° C.The assimilation of nitrogen sources has been comparatively studied. In addition to peptoneH. parvum metabolizes urea and most aminoacids, whileH. bisporale assimilates peptone, leucine, alanine, glutamic acid and proline only. On the basis of N assimilation and thermophily, a key of the studied strain is established.A comparison ofH. bisporale withH. parvum, confirmed that the former species is a Phycomycete, while the latter is a Moniliaceous, aleuriosporic fungus. All the strains are feebly pathogenic, but the virulence of the Italian soil isolate is equal to that of the most virulent strains isolated from animal lungs (Alberta, Canada).The taxonomy ofH. parvum has been studied in relation to the more or less allied generaAleurisma, Glenosporella, Geomyces andStaphylotrichum.It is concluded thatH. parvum may be better classified as a new genus, and the monotypic genusEmmonsia withE. parva (Emm. etAshb.) n. comb. is proposed, although the entire group of aleuriosporaceous fungi needs revision.     

Effect of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the growth and sporulation of Claviceps microcephal (Wallr) TUL.

The effect of different carbon and nitrogen compounds on growth and sporulation ofC. microcephala (Wallr.)Tul. causing ergot disease of Bajra has been studied. Nine different sources of carbon were used but cane sugar was found to be the best source for both, growth and sportulation of the fungus. Glucose, sucrose and maltose gave good growth but fair sporulation. Lactose and sorbitaol proved to be the poor sources. However, fungus failed to utilize starch, dextrin and mannitol.Nineteen nitrogen compounds were tried for the growth and sporulation of the fungus. Best growth and sporulation were supported by peptone and glycine. L-asparagine, DL-valine, Urea, magnesium nitrate and L-proline supported good growth and fair sporulation except DL-valine where it was excellent. Poor growth was obtained on L-isoleucin, ammonium sulphate, potassium nitrate,-alanine, ammonium chloride, DL-aspartic acid and DL-methionine. Fungus failed to utilize thio-urea.     

Some new hosts to Leptosphaerulina McAlp. from India

Summary The present paper describes a species ofLeptosphaerulina occurring on 10 angiospermic hosts belonging to 7 families of dicotyledons. On the basis of perithecial size, shape, septation and size of ascospores, the fungus occurring on all these hosts was considered to be belonging to a single species which was identified asL. australis McAlp. Further work on the taxonomy and nutritional requirements of the fungus is under investigation.     

Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metchinkoff) Sorokin., and its host range

Metarrhizium anisopliae (Metchinkoff)Sorokin., can be readily cultured in quantity on a medium containing honey, peptone, and barley.Poecilocerus pictus andHeliothis obsoleta are two additional hosts of the fungus reported for the first time.     

Purification and characterization of 5-oxo-l-prolinase from Paecilomyces varioti F-1, an ATP-dependent hydrolase active with l-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid

An enzyme cleaving l-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid to l-cysteine was purified 75-fold with 8% recovery to near homogeneity from crude extracts of Paecilomyces varioti F-1, which had been isolated as a fungus able to assimilate l-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. The molecular mass was estimated to be 260 kDa by gel filtration. The purified preparation migrated as a single band of molecular mass 140 kDa upon SDS-PAGE. The maximum activity was observed at a range of pH 7.0–8.0 and at 50 °C. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by SH-blocking reagents such as AgNO₃, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, and N-bromosuccinimide. The enzyme required ATP, Mg²⁺, and KCl for the cleavage of l-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. The enzyme also cleaved 5-oxo-l-proline to l-glutamic acid and is considered to be 5-oxo-l-prolinase. Received: 23 March 1999 / Accepted: 22 June 1999     

Formation and partial characterization of glucose-2-oxidase,a H2O2 producing enzyme in Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Summary A sugar oxidizing enzyme which produces H₂O₂ during glucose starvation in the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been purified from mycelial extracts and somewhat characterized. Enzyme purity was confirmed by analytical isoelectric focusing and by dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both techniques revealing a homogeneous protein. The enzyme is active over a broad pH range with maximum activity at pH 7.5. Of several sugars tested, glucose was the preferred substrate although -d-gluconolactone and d-xylose were also oxidized at significant rates (at 60% and 37%, respectively, of the rate observed with glucose). K _m-values for glucose and xylose are 1.03 and 20 mM respectively and the glucose oxidation product was idenitified as d-arabino-2-hexosulose. The possible importance of glucose-2-oxidase in lignin degradation is discussed.     

Assimilation of nail keratin by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Morphological study)

Summary In the course of onychomycosis due toTrichophyton mentagrophytes histological studies of nail plate were carried out in order to study growth of the fungus in the nail. The tissue changes caused by assimilation of the nail keratin by the fungus were also studied. Three phases of this process have been described: 1) growth of the fungus in the intercellular spaces, 2) corrosion of nail tissue, 3) gas production. The gas tunnels make an anatomic substratum of the transverse net (Alkiewicz 1948) and of the spriggy net (Sowiski). The fungus has grown in a monomorphic way in the nail and only arthrospores (spore chains) have been observed.

---

Zusammenfassung In Onychomykosen (Tr. mentagrophytes) wurden Nagelplatten histologisch untersucht, um das Pilzwachstum und die Folgen der Assimilation des Nagelkeratins zu studieren. Es wurden 3 Stadien festgelegt: 1) das interzelluläre Wachstum des Pilzes, 2) die Korrosion des Nagelgewebes, 3) die Gasbildung. Die langgestreckten gashaltigen Räume (Tunnels) sind das anatomische Substrat des transversalen Netzwerkes (Alkiewicz) und des zweigförmigen Netzes (Sowiski). Der Pilz wächst im Nagel monomorph und erscheint nur in Form von Arthrosporen (Sporenketten).

     

Entomophthora blunckii an Kohlschaben (Plutella maculipennis): Isolierung und neue Beschreibung

Zusammenfassung Von pilzbefallenen Larven der KohlschabePlutella maculipennis Curt. wurdeEntomophthora blunckii Lakon exZimmermann isoliert. Die Art wird mit lateinischer Diagnose gültig beschrieben, die morphologischen Merkmale werden erg?nzend angegeben und erstmals durch Fotos belegt.E. blunckii w?chst gut auf koaguliertem Eidotter, weniger gut auf Sabouraud-Glucose-Agar. Mycelwachstum wurde zwischen 8° und 28°C beobachtet, dagegen nicht bei 32°C. Die Symptome infizierter Larven werden geschildert und der Pilz wird mit ?hnlichen Arten verglichen.

---

Summary Entomophthora blunckii Lakon exZimmermann was isolated from larvae of the diamondback-mothPlutella maculipennis Curt. and redescribed. The fungus is characterized by its elliptical to pear-shaped conidia (from infected larvae 13–20×7–11 μm, mostly 15–18×7–9 μm) with the outer membrane often inflated and its branched conidiophores forming a dense gray to faint greenish-yellowish covering over the body of the insect. The symptoms of larvae infected withE. blunckii are described. The species grows on coagulated egg yolk, less well on Sabouraud-Dextrose-Agar. Growth was observed between 8° and 28°C but not at 32°C. The fungus is compared with similar species.