THE PRODUCTION OF POLYSACCHARIDES BY FUNGI ACTIVE IN THE DECOMPOSITION OF WOOD AND FOREST LITTER

Abstract

Four fungi known to be active in the decomposition of wood and forest litter were grown on a liquid medium containing salts and glucose and also on aqueous extracts of a variety of fresh leaves and litter. The polysaccharides produced in the various culture media by the same organism were found, by chromatography of the hydrolyzates, to be of the same composition. In some cases, when the fungi were grown on leaf or litter extracts, polysaccharide synthesis did not take place because of lack of carbohydrate material. In many instances polysaccharide synthesis was inhibited by a factor or factors present even in much diluted extracts.