Effect of inoculum dilution on spore germination and sporeling growth in a mutant strain of Aspergillus amstelodami

Abstract

Single spore cultures of a mutant strain of Aspergillus amstelodami grew slowly or not at all on media which supported rapid growth of heavy inocula. Retardation was partly due to slowing of the germination process and of the linear rate of sporeling growth, but much more to lack of hyphal branching. A Cellophane technique was used to condition agar media by heavy inocula in such a way that they afterwards supported normal development of single spore cultures. Carbon dioxide, added to the incubation atmosphere, stimulated sporeling branching but did not improve germination or rate of linear growth.