Impact of water activity of diverse media on spore germination of Aspergillus and Penicillium species

• Published in: International journal of food microbiology 2010-08, Vol.142 (1), p.273-276
• Main Authors: Nanguy, Sidjè Paule-Marina, Perrier-Cornet, Jean-Marie, Bensoussan, Maurice, Dantigny, Philippe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspergillus; Aspergillus - growth & development; Aspergillus - metabolism; Aspergillus carbonarius; Aspergillus flavus; culture media; food microbiology; Germination; Life Sciences; Penicillium; Penicillium - growth & development; Penicillium - metabolism; Penicillium chrysogenum; Penicillium expansum; spore germination; Spores, Fungal - growth & development; Spores, Fungal - metabolism; sporulation; Water - metabolism; Water activity
• ISSN: 0168-1605; 1879-3460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.06.031

The effects of water activity ( a w ) of diverse media i/ culture medium for sporogenesis, a w sp ii/ liquid spore suspension medium, a w su and iii/ medium for germination, a w ge , on the germination time t G of Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium expansum were assessed according to a screening matrix at 0.95 and 0.99 a w . It was shown that i/ reduced t Gs were obtained at 0.95 a w sp except for P. expansum ii/ a significant effect of a w su on t G was demonstrated for A. carbonarius, P. chrysogenum and P. expansum iii/ the most important factor for controlling the germination time was the medium for germination except for A. carbonarius ( a w su ). In accordance with the fact that fungal spores can swell as soon as they are suspended in an aqueous solution it is recommended to re-suspend fungal spores in a solution at the same water activity as that of subsequent germination studies.