Efficient isolation of thermophilic and thermotolerant mucoralean fungi

Rhizomucor miehei (Cooney & Emerson) Schipper, R. pusillus (Lindt) Schipper, Rhizopus rhizopodiformis (Cohn) Zopf, and Absidia corymbifera (Cohn) Sacc. & Trotter were isolated from numerous materials immersed in YpSs agar or 2% malt extract agar containing 50 g/ml Benlate, 100 U/ml penicillin G, and 40 g/ml streptomycin sulfate; agar plates were incubated at 45 °C. Alternative media and procedures useful for special circumstances are described. These four pathogenic thermophilic or thermotolerant species were readily isolated from spices, herbal teas, sunflower seeds, and other materials.