Effect of nutritional factors and carbon dioxide on growth of Fusarium moniliforme and other fungi in reduced oxygen concentrations

Abstract

The growth of eight fungi is reduced as atmospheric oxygen concentration is reduced. In seven cases growth reduction is most severe on a defined medium, less so on a medium containing potato extract. Potato extract allowed three fungi, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani and Rhizopus sp., to grow appreciably at a lower oxygen concentration (0.01 %, v/v) than other fungi tested. Yeast and liver extracts and egg yolk emulsion could replace potato extract. A vitamin mixture provided a partial replacement but no other group of compounds had an effect when used alone. Carbon dioxide, up to 4 % (v/v), was generally stimulatory to fungi growing at 0.1 % oxygen and never inhibitory. Stimulation was only marked in the cases of Aspergillus ustus and F. solani where carbon dioxide accelerated spore germination.