Biochemical changes occurring following the activation of dormat ascospores of sordaria humana

The rate of protein synthesis and respiration, utilization of reserved food materials was studied in activated cells of Sordaria humana. Subjecting the dormant ascospores to "heat shock" triggerred the activation process. Preheating ascospores at 40°C for 30 minutes accelerated the rate of oxygen uptake indicating their activation. The synthesis of protein started after about half an hour and maximum amount was sythesized during the logarithmic phase growth [about 2 hours from activation]. Endogenous carbohydrate was mainly utilized during germination of ascospores, lipid was also utilized during germination but at a slower rate

Production of metabolites by the cell-free extract prepared from the mycelium of penicillium martensii biourge

Studies were done on the cell-free extract prepared from the mycelium of P. martensii Biourge. The results showed that griseofulvin was produced when 6-methyl salicylic acid was added to the cell-free extract Amudol and dehydrogriseofulvin were produced when sodium salicylate was added to the cell-free extract. None of the above mentioned metabolities were produced when orcinol alone or in combination with NaC1 was added to the cell-free extract