Premium
Prediction of conidial germination of Penicillium chrysogenum as influenced by temperature, water activity and pH
Author(s) -
Sautour M.,
Rouget A.,
Dantigny P.,
Divies C.,
Bensoussan M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2001.00872.x
Subject(s) - penicillium chrysogenum , horticulture , biology , botany
M. SAUTOUR, A. ROUGET, P. DANTIGNY, C. DIVIES AND M. BENSOUSSAN. 2001Aims: Conidial germination of Penicillium chrysogenum was carried out under operating conditions compatible with a pastries manufacturing process. Methods and Results: A range, limited by two experimental values, was defined for each environmental factor tested: temperature (15 or 25°C), water activity (0·75 or 0·85) and pH (3·5 or 5·5). A closed device was made, which maintained an equilibrium between water activity of the culture medium and atmospheric relative humidity during 25 days, to follow spore germination. The combined effects of temperature, water activity and pH on spore germination were studied by applying factorial design methodology. Conclusions: Higher rates of spore germination were associated with a high level of water activity. The incubation temperature also had a positive effect. A significant positive interaction between water activity and temperature was observed. Under these specific experimental conditions, pH did not have a significant effect on conidial germination. Significance and Impact of the Study: A model describing the behaviour of fungal conidia is proposed.