On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2)Somerville, Mary
History
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 1 (of 2)
Somerville, Mary
Matter -- Constitution; Microscopy; Natural history
The real spore-bearing filaments of the Penicillium glaucum are only
developed in air, for when the spores of that fungus are kept submerged
in a liquid favourable for their growth, as in a saccharine solution, or
the juice of the grape, they form an aquatic mycelium on the filaments
of which cells are produced, and carbonic acid gas is given out. These
cells increase by budding or division into chains of ferment, easily
separated into single cells. The Penicillium glaucum is thus developed
in all kinds of liquids, and in almost all kinds of conditions; even the
peculiar knotty filaments observed in its submerged mycelium are not
constant in different liquids. M. Hoffmann has observed with certainty
the passage of Penicillium glaucum into Penicillium candidum, into a
sulphur-coloured Penicillium, and, lastly, into the Coremium glaucum, so
that this fungus is polymorphous, although the conditions under which
the changes take place are unknown.[57]
It appears that substances and liquids do not ferment spontaneously, for
upon examining with a microscope the dust obtained by scraping the
exterior of gooseberries, plums, vine leaves, potatoes, &c., M. Hoffmann
found the short chains of the Torula, the necklace-like ferments of the
Mucedines, and the chaplets of others. Some had already begun to
germinate, and were developed readily when put into water. They had no
doubt been carried by the wind from the dry refuse of fermented
substances which are thrown away.
[Illustration: Fig. 35. Torula Cerevisiæ, showing successive stages of
cell multiplication.]
The yeast of beer was at one time considered to consist entirely of the
cells and chains of the Torula Cerevisiæ (fig. 35). This, which is one
of the Coniomycetes of the order Torulacei, is in its early stage a
colourless transparent globe capable of endless increase by budding.
When in a liquid favourable to its growth, as the wort of malt, buds in
the form of young cells spring from the walls of the globes; these soon
become perfect and acquire buds also, so that in a few hours the parent
cells develop themselves into rows of four or five globes, which remain
in contact while the plant is growing, but separate if anything checks
the fermentation. The full development of the plant only takes place
when the fermentation is allowed to continue for some time, and then it
is capable of producing a variety of forms, which show that it has other
modes of reproduction besides budding.[58] In fact, when the
fermentation is active in the upper parts of the liquid it appears in
chaplets of from four to twelve articulations, or sometimes it ramifies
into little branches.
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