Role of Water Mobility on Mold Spore Germination

A sugar transport defected strain of Aspergillus nidulans (biA-1 sorA-2) was tested for spore germination in nutrient media containing various water activity (a(w)) values and varying amounts of non-nutritive, nontoxic carbohydrates (L-sorbose and cellulose). Freeze-dried media [containing the same nutrient level but different in sorbose/cellulose (s:c) ratio] were adjusted to 0.75-0.97a(w) at 25 degrees C before inoculation. Minimum a(w) for germination varied with s:c ratio. Because both sorbose and cellulose were not metabolizable and unable to be transported into the cells, the results reflected the molecular mobility of water. (2)H NMR T(2) relaxation time correlated well with spore germination time, and it distinguished the difference between water sorbed to cellulose and water in a solution associated with dissolved sorbose. On the other hand, mold germination time correlated poorly with a(w). It was highly dependent on the s:c ratio. Water mobility was found to correlate better with biological activity than a(w) because it differentiated the availability between water in dissolved sorbose and adsorbed water in cellulose.