NOTES ON THE PHYSIOLOGY AND MORPHOLOGY OF THAMNOSTYLUM PIRIFORME ISOLATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SOUTH-AFRICA

The morphology and physiology of two fungal isolates, which were the f irst record of the species Thamnostylum piriforme in South Africa, wer e studied. In both isolates, which were morphologically typical repres entatives of their species, sporulation was stimulated by UV light. Op timum growth and sporulation,in the dark was found to occur at 25 degr ees C. The isolates could utilize a wide variety of carbon sources aer obically. These carbon sources included pentoses, hexoses, disaccharid es, trisaccharides, polysaccharides, glycosides, alcohols and organic acids. D-galactose, D-glucose and maltose could be fermented. The isol ates were able to grow in a medium without vitamins and were found to be sensitive to cyclohexamide at a concentration of 0.01% w/v. The iso lates tested positive for urease activity on Christensen's urea agar, while extracellular enzymatic activity was indicated by the ability to liquefy gelatin. The most biomass-containing high value dietetic oil was obtained with acetic acid as carbon source. Consequently, it is po ssibile to utilize this fungus for the production of bioprotein and hi gh value dietetic oil on industrial effluents containing acetic acid.