The effects of moisture and temperature on growth and spore germination in some fungi

The delays in germination and subsequent growth rates of thirty isolates from twelve species of Aspergillus, three species of Penicillium and Stachybotrys atra were measured throughout the ranges of water activity and temperature which permitted growth. There were marked differences between species in their temperature and water activity optima and limits but the differences between isolates of individual species were small. All the isolates were most tolerant of low water activity at temperatures close to the optimum but in some species the optimum and maximum temperatures were higher at reduced water activity.