Sporothrix inflata, a root-inhabiting fungus of Quercus robur and Q. petraea
The anamorphic fungus Sporothrix inflata, known as a soil-borne fungus with worldwide distribution, was isolated for the first time from the cortex and central cylinder of living and dead roots of healthy and diseased oak trees (Quercus robur and Q. petraea). Isolation frequencies of S. inflata from oak roots varied according to the health status of trees, oak species, study sites, soil depth and root diameter. Colony morphology and growth rate of isolates are influenced by colony age and type of culture medium.
Studies on four species of Ceratocystis, with a discussion on fungi causing sap-stain in Britain.
T E b lue ing or s a p s t a i n of t i m b e r is of g r e a t economic i m p o r t a n c e t o fores te rs a n d t i m b e r m e r c h a n t s . T h i s defec t h a s b e e n s t u d i e d i n d e t a i l i n S w e d e n , G e r m a n y , a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I n Sweden , L a g e r b e r g , L u n d b e r g , a n d Melin (1928), a n d l a t e r Melin a n d N a n n f e l d t (1934), h a v e s h o w n t h a t s eve ra l species of A s c o m y c e t e s , u s u a l l y classified a s Oeratostomella, a n d m a n y species be long ing t o different g e n e r a of F u n g i I m p e r f e c t i a r e r e spons ib le for b lue ing of conifers . I n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , H e d g c o c k (1906), R u m b o l d ( 1 9 2 9 , 1 9 3 1 , 1 9 3 6 , 1 9 4 1 ) , D a v i d s o n (1935, 1944), a n d Ver ra l l (1939) a m o n g o t h e r s h a v e g i v e n a c o m p l e t e a c c o u n t of fungi t h a t cause s a p s t a i n . I n B r i t a i n , howeve r , l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n h a s been p a i d t o t h e w o r k of s a p s t a i n fungi . I n p a p e r s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e b lue ing of coni­ ferous t i m b e r , b lue ing is s i m p l y m e n t i o n e d a s c a u s e d b y Oeratostomella pilifera F r . , b u t M u n c h h a s s h o w n t h a t so-cal led C. pilifera is m a d e u p of a n u m b e r of different species , a n d of t h e s e C. pini M u n c h h a s b e e n s u p p o s e d t o b e t h e chief o r g a n i s m respons ib le for b lue ing conifers i n B r i t a i n . T h e a u t h o r , h o w e v e r , h a s n o t b e e n ab l e t o i so la te t h i s fungus f rom n u m e r o u s spec imens of b l u e d w o o d , b u t h a s i so la ted a n u m b e r of o t h e r fungi . A m o n g t h e s e , Ceratocystis piceae (Munch) B a k s h i (syn. Oeratostomella piceae M u n c h ) a n d Leptographium lundbergii L a g e r . & Melin, i so la ted f rom t h e ga l l e ry of t h e a m b r o s i a bee t l e (Trypodendron lineatum) a s wel l a s f rom b l u e d p i n e b o a r d s , h a v e b e e n d i scussed else­ w h e r e (Baksh i , 1950«). I n o c u l a t i o n e x p e r i m e n t s w i t h t h e s e t w o fungi h a v e s h o w n t h a t L. lundbergii is a s t r o n g b lue ing a g e n t , w h e r e a s C. piceae is o n l y a w e a k one . T h e p r e s e n t p a p e r dea l s w i t h t h r e e m o r e s t a i n i n g fungi , Ceratocystis coerulescens (Miinch) B a k s h i , a n e w r eco rd i n B r i t a i n , C. longirostellata sp . n o v . , a n d O. galeiformis sp . n o v . Life-his tor ies of t h e s e fiingi a r e h e r e desc r ibed , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h a t of C. wilsoni, a p r o p o s e d n e w species of Ceratocystis, wh ich does n o t s t a i n s a p wood.
Correlation of the Upper Cretaceous White Chalk (Turonian to Campanian) in the Anglo-Paris Basin
Using key lithological, biostratigraphic and geophysical borehole-log markers a correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Chalk stratigraphies across the whole Anglo-Paris Basin has been achieved. A common lithological marker bed stratigraphy applies and key fossil markers (inoceramids, Micraster and Echinocorys ) are consistently related to the same lithological markers throughout the basin. The major lithological changes consistently occur at the same levels but are not necessarily equally strongly developed. The magnificent dip section along the French Channel coast between the Somme and the Seine, and the inland sections at Precy-sur-Oise and Verlin (Loiret) illustrate the influence of long-lived tectonic lines on Chalk sedimentation history recognised by: (i) rapid thickness variations; (ii) channel flooring hardgrounds and associated anomalous bedding dips: (iii) stratigraphically anomalous infills of channels which may be metres to kilometres across; (iv) redeposited chalks containing abundant Bathichnus paramoudrae ; (v) tectonically induced slumps and slides with flint and chalk shatter beds (palaeoseismic horizons). These features are found along may axes including the Anticlinal du Bray at Precy and Dieppe, the Anticlinal de Margny-les-Compiegne at Nourard le-Franc and Le Treport (the Bresle Valley Axis) and the Fecamp and Verlin fault systems. The ‘events’ recognised along these axes link with similar events recognised in Sussex (e.g. Kingston Anticline), on Portsdown, at Culver Cliff, Isle of Wight (Sandown Pericline) and on the Weymouth Anticline (White Nothe). Such events are common in the high Turonian, low Coniacian, basal Santonian, and the low and mid Campanian. The recurrence of key marker beds dominated by a particular trace fossil association or sequence, Bathichnus-Thalassinoides suevicus-Zoophycos associated with major changes in lithology, micro and macro-fauna indicates more widespread ‘oceanographic’ cycles of transgression and regression related to Atlantic opening.