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SUMMARY
A total of 29 isolates of Basidiobolus were studied which included 9 human isolates, 6 B. ranaritm, 7 B. meristosporus, 4 B. microsporus, 1 B. haptosporus, and 2 unidentified species. All 9 human isolates produced a black pigment within 48 hr at 30 C on tyrosine agar medium (0.5% L-tyrosine + 2% purified agar-Difco) and all non-human isolates produced either a pink pigment or no pigment at all. The pigment phenomenon seems to be a stable characteristic, since over a period of 1 year with regular monthly transfers no variations were noted. Even after the organisms were passed through the gut of toads and frogs, no changes in pigment formation were observed. It appears that a definite correlation exists between black pigment production and pathogenicity; however, attempts to reproduce the disease (subcutaneous phycomycosis) in laboratory animals have failed.