Kaneo Hayashi

Studies on Alkali-treatment of Raw Material Seaweeds of Agar Industry

Agar preparation was investigated under various conditions from Hirakusa (Gelidium subcostatum). Although the methods of general extration from Hirakusa as raw material did not give satisfactory results on the yield and physico-chemical propezties of extracted agar, alkali-treatment was effective on the extraction of agar of good physica-chemical properties. On the effect of the alkali-treatment and subsequent extraction, microscopic observation of the tissue maceration of Hirakusa under various conditions, estimation of agarose and agaropectin in Hirakusa agar as raw material and alkali-treated Hirakusa agar and the texture of agar gel by texturometer were carried out.

Biochemical Studies on the Corticium centrifugum

The fundamental studies on the metabolism of organic acid by Corticium centrifugum have been made, and the following results were obtained. 1) It was identified with mixed melting point and paper chromatography that the organic acid produced by this fungus was only oxalic acid. 2) Thiamine was the growth promoting substance of this fungus, although the relation-ship between added thiamine and accumulated oxalic acid was not proportional. 3) The maximal accumulation of oxalic acid was obtained after one weeks incubation, thereafter, oxalic acid was decomposed by the autolysis of this fungus. 4) The initial pH was optimum at either the neutral or the weakly acidic side; this fungus was resistant to acid and fragile to alkali. Optimal sugar concentration to the formation of oxalic acid by the fungus was apporoximately 5 per cent (sucrose), and relation between growth of the fungus and accumulation of oxalic acid was not proportional, in the case of a variety of sugars being used as the source of C. 5) Peptone as nitrogen source was more effective to maximal accumulation of oxalic acid by this fungus, and potassium nitrate, ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate yielded a lower maximal accumulation, in the decreasing order. 6) The effects of inhibitors to growth and oxalic acid formation were examined using fungus matter: The growth of this fungus was completely inhibited by 10-3M of sodium azide, and considerable accumulation of oxalic acid in the culture media was found by the addition of 10-3M monoiodo acetate, whereas thiourea and urethane were not effective.

Studion on the Carbohydrate from the Bulb of Lycoris radiata HERBERT

The mucilage is isolated from cold water extract of the bulb of Lycoris radiata HERBERT by adding the Fehlings solution. And it is confirmed that this mucilage is a glucomannan consisted of one part of glucose and four parts of mannose.