Chainia, a New Genus of the Actinomycetales

Abstract

AN actinomycete isolated from soil in Poona showed on examination characters representing an undescribed genus. The species was saprophytic, aerobic and mesophilic, growing readily on the various nutrient agar media employed. The colonies on glucose–peptone agar are faint cream-yellow in early stages, with well-developed fine non-septate mycelium, 0.4–0.8µ in diameter and branching in a monopodial type. The hyphæ developing in a radiating manner grow into the substrate, giving a lichenoid appearance. There is no true aerial mycelium formed, though growth at later period appears compact and raised. The unseptate mycelium never fragments into bacillary or coccoid forms and is Gram-positive and non-acid fast.