Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 66. (Budapest 1974)

P. Komáromy, Zs.: Studies on the aerophytic Chorhormidium flaccidum (Kütz.) Fott (Ulotrichales)

logical differences. These differences were interpreted by him to be ecological in nature and were considered stable enough to base systematic units on them. In the liquid media the two differently acting Chlorhormidium flaccidum varieties are considered as such by FAROOQUI (1969): Chlorhormidium flaccdium var. nitens (MENEGH.) FAROOQUI forming superficial film and the Chlorhormidium flaccidum var. flaccidum FOTT forming a mass of filaments resembling cottonwool in the medium. The cell structure and the cell sizes in the two varieties are identical. If we assume that the superficial film and the mass of filamnets in the medium physiologically significantly differ from each other, then inevitably a morphological divergence should be manifest in each case. However, as it vas established, the two types of filaments anatomically are identical, thus, this physiological difference is certainly of no taxonomic value. Material and method It was in December, 1972 when the author first collected soil surface alga layers in the Mátra Mts. Since March, 1973, the author made regular collectings in every 3 — 4 weeks at a sample site near Párád, between Galya-tető and Kékes-tető, and also in the environs of Mátrafüred. The sample localities are as follows: 1. "Galyatető", 5. XII. 1972, layer formed on the bark of an old birch-tree. 2. "Som-hegy", 15. III. 1973, beech-wood, on the surface of the bare soil an alga layer (thawing snow). 3. "Parádhuta", 15. III. 1973, green layer on path. 4. "Parádi Vár-hegy", 9. IV. 1973, layer on soil on path. 5. "Parádi Vár-hegy", 9. IV. 1973, layer developed on litter of Fagus silvatica. 6. "Sás-tó", 16. V. 1973, alga layer on bare soil. 7. "Nyirjes quarry," 16. V. 1973, layer developed on litter of Fagus silvatica. 8. "Nyirjes quarry", 16. V. 1973, layer on soil at foot of Fagus silvatica. 9. "Bagolykő", 19. VI. 1973, soil sample of a thickness 0 — 5 cm (developed under laboratory conditions). In several occasions, the more extensive areas (over several dm

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) covered with alga layers proved to be a mass production of Chlorhormidium flaccidum. In other cases it occurred with moss protonema and with other alga species. Examination of crude cultures The laboratory examination of soil samples wetted with distilled water originating from various sites started on the 1st of September, 1973. The diameter of 20 filamnets and the length of 100 cells of each sample were measured in a way to obtain values for cells found at the apex and in the middle of the filaments. The extreme values were 6.3 fx and 7 u., but the majority of the filamnets measured 6.6 u, in diameter. Examination of liquid cultures — From the examined crude cultures (series 0) on the 7th of September two parallel series were inoculated In Detmer and Bold media (series I). In order to be able to observe a possible swarming, the Bold cultures were inoculated after a week in distilled water and subsequently, were kept in dark for 24 hours. No swarming was observed. Inoculations were continued on the 27 th of September: three samples of series I (materials from sites 1, 5 and 9) and the films and alga coats developed on them were inoculated on Detmer and Bold media (series II). The superficial film was inoculated with the help of a sterile loop, while the cotton-wool-like mass of fila-