Spore production ofPenicillium roqueforti in fermentors filled with buckwheat seeds: batch and semi-continuous cultivation

Summary The behaviour of a drum fermentor and a column fermentor during the sporulation ofPenicillium roqueforti on buckwheat seeds is presented. The main problem encountered during the course of a cultivation is the free water released (about 0.1 ml/g dry matter) which must be removed from the medium. The rotation of the drum fermentor may disturb the growth and the sporulation. The column fermentor thus represents the best way to perform batch cultivation of the fungus: 10⁹ external spores/g dry matter are obtained.Semi-continous cultivation, with sequential emptying and filling, is performed in 1-liter bottles. This kind of cultivation may give a maximal average productivity close to 9.2·10⁶ external spores/g dry matter per hour. A drum fermentor, rotading only when emptying and filling, could represent an alternative to perform this kind of cultivation.     

Effect of arterial perfusion on net water flux and active sodium transport across the isolated skin ofBufo bufo bufo (L.)

Summary A method has been developed which allows perfusion of the blood vessels in isolated pelvic skins ofB. bufo. The effect of various doses of vasotocin (AVT) on net water flux (inside medium 220 mOsM, outside medium 11 mOsM) and active sodium transport were compared in perfused and unperfused skins. The unstimulated water flux (Fig. 3) and the active sodium transport (Fig. 6) were unaffected by perfusion. The threshold for stimulation of water flux was between 0.01 and 0.1 nM vasotocin in perfused skins and between 0.1 and 1 nM in unperfused skins. The threshold for stimulation of active sodium transport was between 0.005 and 0.05 nM vasotocin in perfused skins and between 0.05 and 0.5 nM in unperfused skins. The maximal water flux through perfused skins, 4 l/cm²min, was obtained at 1 nM vasotocin. At 10 nM vasotocin the water flux was only 0.7 l/cm²min in unperfused skins. The maximal active sodium transport was approximately of the same magnitude in perfused and unperfused skins, at 0.5 mM and at 50 nM, respectively.     

Synthese der Hämolymphproteine und die Aufnahme der Dotterfraktion in die Oocyte unter Actinomycin-Einflu\ (Untersuchungen anMusca domestica)

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe von autoradiographischen und elektrophoretischen Methoden wurde die Dottereinlagerung in den wachsenden Oocyten vonMusca domestica untersucht. Sie beginnt nach 30 min im Autoradiogramm sichtbar zu werden. Durch ihre Färbbarkeit und Markierung konnte die Dotterfraktion im Pherogramm von Ovar und Hämolymphe eines mittleren Wachstumsstadiums (Stadium 3) nachgewiesen werden. Nach Abschlu\ der Vitellogenese tritt sie in der Hämolymphe nicht mehr auf. Die Einlagerung der Dotterproteine wird durch Actinomycin gestört, dagegen läuft ihre Synthese nahezu unbeeinflu\t weiter. Die Transporthemmung kann als bisher unbekannter Nebeneffekt des Actinomycins gedeutet werden.

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Synthesis of haemolymph proteine and the uptake of the yolk fraction in the oocyte during Actinomycin-treatment. (Studies onMusca domestica)

Summary By means of radioautographic and electrophoretic techniques yolk protein uptake in the growing oocytes ofMusca domestica was investigated. After 30 min yolk protein becomes visible in the radioautograms. By stainability and labeling the yolk fraction could be demonstrated in the pherogram of ovary and haemolymph in an intermediate developmental stage (stage 3). After the end of vitellogenesis it does not appear in the haemolymph. The yolk protein uptake is inhibited by Actinomycin, but the synthesis goes on nearly as normal. This inhibition can be interpretated as a new accessory effect of Actinomycin.

     

Water relations of xerophilic fungi isolated from prunes

The predominant spoilage fungi of dried and high-moisture prunes were members of the Aspergillus glaucus group and Xeromyces bisporus. Chrysosporium spp. were also important. At the mean pH of prune flesh (3.8) and at 25 C, X. bisporus grew at water activities (a_w) down to 0.605, and Chrysosporium fastidium grew to 0.686. Germination was always followed by growth, but within the 120-day incubation period, the minimum a_w permitting asexual sporulation was usually higher than that permitting germination. Sexual sporulation often required an even higher a_w. The water requirements of aspergilli were appreciably greater at this pH than near neutrality, no species germinating below 0.738 a_w. This was probably a consequence of a high spore-death rate during incubation at low a_w and pH.     

Cold hardiness in the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch)

Summary The effect of temperatures below 0° C on different stages of the two-spotted spider mite, and in particular on active adult females, has been investigated.Survival of active females at-5° was higher at approximately 100% relative humidity than at a lower degree of humidity. Higher rates of survival were also caused by acclimation of active females and larvae for one day at +5° before storage at-15°. No differences in cold-hardiness were found in active females from an organophosphorous resistant strain and a susceptible strain, and the ability to survive depended on the time-temperature exposures (see Fig. 3).Eggs were killed very rapidly at-15° C, while larvae survived longer exposures than active females. Compared at the LT₅₀ level females in diapause survived three times the exposure endured by acclimated active females.Supercooling points measured at a rate of cooling of 2° C per minute were highest in diapausing females and lowest in eggs. Acclimation had no effect on the supercooling points of active females. All stages were killed by freezing. It seems likely that the difference in survival between acclimated and not acclimated active females at-15° is caused by different ability to live in a supercooled state.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Wirkung von Temperaturen unter 0° auf verschiedene Stadien der Bohnenspinnmilbe, insbesondere auf aktive erwachsene Weibchen untersucht.Die Überlebensrate aktiver Weibchen war bei nahezu hundertprozentiger relativer Luftfeuchtigkeit höher als bei niederer Feuchtigkeit. Höhere Überlebensraten wurden auch durch Akklimatisation aktiver Weibchen und Larven für einen Tag bei 5° vor der Behandlung mit-15° erreicht. Es wurden keine Unterschiede in der Kältewiderstandfähigkeit aktiver Weibchen eines phosphorsäureesterresistenten und eines anfälligen Stammes gefunden. Die Überlebensfähigkeit hängt von Dauer und Temperatur der Einwirkung ab.Eier wurden von-15° sehr schnell abgetötet, während Larven längere Einwirkungszeiten überlebten als aktive Weibchen. Bei einem Vergleich der LT₅₀ überlebten diapausierende Weibchen dreimal längere Einwirkungszeiten, als sie von akklimatisierten aktiven Weibchen ertragen wurden.Unterkühlungspunkte—gemessen bei einer Abkühlungsrate von 2° pro Minute—lagen bei diapausierenden Weibchen am höchsten und bei Eiern am niedrigsten.Akklimatisierung hatte keinen Einfluß auf die Unterkühlungspunkte aktiver Weibchen. Durch Gefrieren wurden alle Stadien getötet. Es erscheint möglich, daß der Unterschied im Überleben akklimatisierter und nichtakklimatisierter Weibchen bei-15° durch die verschiedene Fähigkeit bedingt ist, in einem unterkühlten Zustande zu leben.

     

Gluconate production by spores of Aspergillus niger

Spores of Aspergillus niger obtained by solid state fermentation on buckwheat seeds produced gluconic acid from glucose with a high yield, near 1.06 g gluconic acid/g glucose, close to the stoichiometric value. The reaction itself could be carried out either with purified biocatalyst or with the whole buckwheat medium resulting from spore production process. 200 g gluconic acid/L were obtained in 200 h with sequential feedings of glucose up to 190 g/L.