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The microbiological analysis of soils from Ontario, Yukon, and Northwest Territories showed the presence of manganese-oxidizing bacteria, Actinomycetes, and fungi. Bacteria and Actinomycetes were predominant in boreal and tundra soils whereas fungi were predominant in the Ontario samples. The 18 species of fungi studied were able to oxidize 10 different compounds of manganese including a chelated form as well as an organic Mn2+ complex. Coniothyrium fuckelii, Periconia sp., P. circinata, P. macrospinosa, Phoma sp., and Sporothrix sp. oxidized all 10 Mn2+ compounds tested. One bacterial culture isolated from Arctic soil was able to oxidize only Mn2+ acetate and tartrate salts.The addition to Mn2+ sulfate medium of either calcium salts of several organic acids or various carbohydrates affected the growth of fungi as well as the nature of the end product of Mn2+ oxidation. Thus, the manganic granules produced by Cephalosporium sp. in the medium in the presence of glucose or starch were resistant to solubilization, dissolving only after 6 h in 1 N ammonium acetate (pH 7.0) containing 0.2% of hydroquinone. Granules produced by P. circinata in the presence of cellulose were insoluble in this solvent. On dissolution of the granules with 30% hydrochloric acid, the residue did not show the presence of bacteria under microscopic examination.

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Colletotrichum atramentarium (not C. gloeosporioides or ? C. phomoides as frequently stated) was found to be the predominant cause of ripe fruit rot in canning tomatoes in Ontario and the adjoining regions of the United States. Infection by the organism occurred readily on all parts of the plant including the fruit. Development of the organism in the plant ceased, however, after a very brief initial period of rapid growth and remained latent until the surrounding host tissues became senescent.Latency in the fruit could be partially overcome by a period of low temperature storage and symptom expression thus obtained in green fruit. The ability of the organism to establish itself in the xylem vessels of the root and stem was demonstrated. Here again, however, rapid development of the organism was of only short duration.The significance of these findings is discussed and attention is drawn to a number of features of the disease that require further clarification.

One of the causal agents of fisheye rot of apples in cold storage, long known under the inapplicable name of Corticium centrifugum sensu Butler, is redescribed as Butlerelfia eustacei Weres, & Illman, gen. et sp. nov., named in honour of H. J. Eustace and L. F. Butler, who first made it known to science.