STUDIES OF WOOD‐DESTROYING FUNGI I. POLYPOBUS HISPIDUS (FRIES)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARY.: The characteristics of the Polyporus Msjndus, when grown on artificial media, both solid and liquid, are described and compared with those given by Baxter.Growth on wood of ash under laboratory conditions produces a rot which is indistinguishable from that occurring naturally. The distribution of the hyphae in the wood is described.The mode of penetration of the cell‐wall by the hyphae is figured. It is apparently by pits in the early stages of decay, but by bore‐holes, formed entirely by enzyme activity, in‐the more advanced rot.The rate of growth of the fungus under controlled conditions has been measured, and shown to be 0–5 cm. per month.Successful inoculation experiments have been carried out with young trees, confirming the results of Baxter, who states that the fungus can attack young, living sap wood.An investigation of the enzymes produced by the mycelium has been carried out, and a method evolved for demonstrating the presence of a ligninase. This is a modification of Czapek's “hadromal” reaction.The following enzymes are shown to be present in the mycelium: emulsin, diastase, invertase, ligninase, hemicellulase, oxidase, and catalase. The list is not intended to be exhaustive.The writer desires to express his thanks to Mr W. R. Day, of the Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford, and to Dr W. Brown, of the Royal College of Science, for helpful criticism and advice. Also to Mr R. S. Pearson, C.I.E., F.L.S., the Director of Forest Products Research, for permission to publish this paper.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: