Influence of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Germinability of Mucor piriformis Spores |
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| Authors: | Regina B Bernd G A Bean W S Conway H E Moline |
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| Institution: | Horticultural Crops Quality Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, Md., U.S.A. and Botany Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Md., U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Studies were conducted to determine the influence of temperature and relative humidity (RH) on germinability and viability of Mucor piriformis spores. Spores did not survive when stored at 35 °C and their survival rate decreased rapidly at 30 °C; however, spores remained viable for more than 1 year at 0 °C. RH also significantly affected spore viability. Spores held at 26 °C and 100% RH no longer germinated after 35 days, while those held at 75 or 90% RH germinated for 65 days. At 20 °C, RH had little effect on spore germinability. The effect of temperature and RH on percentage spore germination also varied. At all temperatures studied, spore viability decreased more rapidly with time at 100% RH than at 75 or 90% RH. The least favorable, temperature-humidity combination, 30 °C and 100% RH, decreased spore germination from 100% to less than 1% in 14 days. |
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