Abstract
P. oryzae is able to grow by its utilization of DL-valine in the absence of a proper carbon source. The formation of α-keto acid, corresponding to the amino acid mentioned, dimethylpyruvic acid is the first step of utilization. This acid (dimethylpyruvic acid) was identified as its 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. A comparatively small amount of this keto acid could be recognized even in the culture medium containing both DL-valine and sucrose. This fact appears to indicate that certain parts of DL-valine, when added to a medium containing sucrose sufficient for growth, were utilized not as a nitrogen source but as a carbon source, pesecially in the early stage of incubation.
