The Effects of Low-oxygen Atmospheres on the Growth of Fungi

Abstract

The effects of low-oxygen concentrations on mycerial growth of 17 fungous species isolated from intermediate moisture confectionaries weres tudied. (I)The ratio between the growth rate of the molds in low-oxygen level and that in air was changed depending on its growth stage, even under the condition of acertain level of oxygen. The inhibitory effect of low-oxygen concentration on growth was much more ovious at initial stage than at the later stage of incubation. (II)Most species showed considerable growth in the atmosphere containing 1% oxygen and their growth rate, calculated from colony diameters, decreased linearly with decreasing oxygen concentration below 1%. (III)In the atmosphere containing 0.1% oxygen, more than several % growth of the growth in air, was observed with Asp. oryzae, Asp. awamori, Pen.cyclapium, Pae. varioti, Rhizopus orpyzae and Mucor ambiguus.