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A STUDY OF POLYPORUS BETULINUS (BULL.) FRIES
Author(s) -
MACDONALD J. A.
Publication year - 1937
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1937.tb05034.x
Subject(s) - hymenium , basidium , biology , spore , botany , hypha , fungus , polyporus
SUMMARY1 An introductory survey is given of the distribution, synonyms, etc., of Polyporus betulinus (Bull.) Fries. 2 In an investigation of the parasitism of the fungus negative results were obtained from infection experiments, but field observations force the writer to the opinion that the organism is a wound parasite. 3 The effect of the fungus on attacked wood was traced in nature and in culture. The type of breakdown produced is regarded as a red‐brown cubical rot, attacking both sapwood and heartwood. 4 A study of the enzyme content of the fungus showed that it contained ferments capable of attacking lignin. 5 The characters of the mvcelium were investigated and the fungus is classified according to Fritz's work. 6 Black lines are formed in culture. They are frequently related in position to bulbils (sclerotia). It is suggested that here, as elsewhere, the hyphae of the black line may be regarded as forming the limiting layer of a resting stage of the fungus. 7 The fertile portion of the sporophore consists of a hymenium lining very numerous pores. The basidia form a continuous row of club‐shaped cells, interspersed with cystidia. These latter appear to be the terminal portions of fibre hyphae. The sequence of nuclear phenomena in the basidium was traced. The period of spore discharge was determined for the species and for individual sporophores. 8 The life of the fungus has been observed from spore to spore in culture during a space of 3 months. 9 Monospore cultures were obtained. The fungus is heterothallic. The spores were shown to fall into two groups when twelve monospore colonies were paired in every possible way. Monosporous mycelia have single nuclei and no clamp connexions. Mycelia which are polysporous in origin contain conjugate nuclei and bear clamp connexions.