Prediction of conidial germination of Penicillium chrysogenum as influenced by temperature, water activity and pH.

M. SAUTOUR, A. ROUGET, P. DANTIGNY, C. DIVIES AND M. BENSOUSSAN. 2001 Aims: 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 fa…