Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America
Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America
Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America
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light helps with observations in this process, though it is<br />
not essential.<br />
6. Acidify the roots with 1 % HCL or other acid. The acidification<br />
can be seen to work, because the roots lighten<br />
in color immediately. Move the roots to acidified ink or<br />
add ink by dropper directly to the acidified roots.<br />
The roots can be examined microscopically after about<br />
30 minutes, though staining generally improves over a longer<br />
period. It is best to leave them at least 4 hours, or preferably<br />
overnight. They can be kept in acidified glycerol + ink indefinitely.<br />
Destaining for a period <strong>of</strong> a few hours in acidified<br />
glycerol is recommended, resulting in improved clarity and<br />
contrast, but if one is in a hurry, the stained root fragments<br />
can be transferred immediately to a suitable mountant on microscope<br />
slides for observation. Polyvinyl alcohol lacto-glyc-<br />
Joan W. Bennett, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Cell<br />
and Molecular Biology at Tulane University,<br />
was elected to the National Academy<br />
<strong>of</strong> Sciences in May. Election to the National<br />
Academy, which serves as a national<br />
advisory group on matters <strong>of</strong> science,<br />
engineering and medicine, is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
highest honors bestowed across the sciences.<br />
Dr. Bennett will be only the second<br />
current Academy member in the <strong>Society</strong>,<br />
along with T.N. Taylor from the University<br />
<strong>of</strong> Kansas.<br />
Dr. Bennett is broadly known for her<br />
contributions in research, teaching and<br />
service. Her election to the National<br />
Academy recognizes her seminal contributions in the areas <strong>of</strong><br />
fungal production <strong>of</strong> secondary metabolites and industrial microbiology.<br />
She is an active instructor with responsibilities<br />
for many courses, and her excellence in teaching and advising<br />
is recognized through numerous awards. Her record <strong>of</strong><br />
service, to Tulane and to pr<strong>of</strong>essional societies, is staggering.<br />
Dr. Bennett has co-edited five books, and served in an<br />
editorial capacity on twelve different journals and book series.<br />
MSA members may be best acquainted with Dr. Bennett<br />
from her service as Editor-in-Chief <strong>of</strong> MYCOLOGIA<br />
MYCOLOGICAL NEWS<br />
erol (PVLG) (Omar, Boland & Heather 1979) produces a<br />
semi-permanent mount (these last many years), or acidified<br />
glycerol can be used if there is no need for longer term<br />
preservation <strong>of</strong> specimens.<br />
This method reduces even more the use <strong>of</strong> unpleasant<br />
chemicals when compared with the ink and vinegar technique.<br />
Nevertheless, all health and safety recommendations<br />
and regulations must be followed when using acids, dilute or<br />
otherwise, or hot alkaline solutions.<br />
References: Omar, M. B., Bolland, L. & Heather, W. A.<br />
(1979). Bulletin <strong>of</strong> the British <strong>Mycological</strong> <strong>Society</strong> 13, 31-<br />
32.; Vierheilig, H., Coughlan, A.P., Wyss, U. & Piché, Y.<br />
(1998). Applied Environmental Microbiology 64, 5004-5007.<br />
Christopher Walker<br />
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh<br />
c.walker@rbge.org.uk<br />
Joan Bennett Elected to the National Academy <strong>of</strong> Sciences<br />
Bennett<br />
from 2002-2004, a period <strong>of</strong> major<br />
changes in the journal, including an ownership<br />
transition from the New York<br />
Botanical Garden to the MSA, on-line<br />
publishing, and most significantly, the<br />
conversion from an all-paper to an allelectronic<br />
submission, review and publication<br />
system. Dr. Bennett oversaw all <strong>of</strong><br />
this turmoil with aplomb, and with all <strong>of</strong><br />
those changes now safely in place, it’s<br />
hard to imagine how it was managed in<br />
such a short time period.<br />
We cannot claim Dr. Bennett as ours<br />
alone, however. Among other positions in<br />
the <strong>America</strong>n <strong>Society</strong> for Microbiology,<br />
she served as its President, and throughout her career has<br />
been instrumental in representing fungi in the broad realm <strong>of</strong><br />
microbiology, particularly on an international level. She<br />
counts among the very small number <strong>of</strong> fungal biologists<br />
with membership in the National Academy, and she is certain<br />
to be a strong and effective advocate for mycology. So, it is<br />
both with pleasure and pride that we congratulate Joan on her<br />
election to the National Academy.<br />
David M. Geiser<br />
dmg17@psu.edu<br />
<strong>Inoculum</strong> <strong>56</strong>(4), November 2005 69