The effects of various gaseous environments and temperatures on development of Penicillium martensii NRRL 3612 and production of penicillic acid (PA) were determined. Accumulation of PA in mold-inoculated corn was measured following incubation under air; 20% CO2, 20% O2, 60% N2; 40% CO2, 20% 02, 40% N2; and 60% CO2, 20% O2, 20% N2. Although reduced temperature initially inhibited PA production, at the end of the trial the largest quantity of PA (120 ug/g of corn) was found in air-incubated corn at the lowest test temperature (5 C). Atmospheres enriched with 60% CO2 reduced PA accumulation below a detectable level at 5 and 10 C after a 4-week incubation period. Spore germination tests were carried out in a liquid growth medium incubated for 16 hr under several test conditions. Germ tube outgrowth at 30 C ranged from 36% in air to 2% in 60% CO2, whereas no germination was observed in CO2-enriched gases at 10 C. When spore respiration rates were measured in air and 02 in a liquid growth medium, complete removal of CO2 from the reaction atmosphere did not reduce 0 2 uptake.

No abstract