Growth response of some thermophilous fungi at different incubation temperatures

Growth response of 21 thermophilous fungi at 10 different temperatures from 15-62° C has been studied. These fungi could be categorized into three groups, i.e., microthermophiles, thermotolerant and true thermophiles. The temperature relations of 6 thermophilous fungi namely Aspergillus tamarii, A. terreus var. aureus (microthermophiles), A. nidulans var. echinulatus A. viridi-nutans, A. fumigatus var. ellipticus and A. caespitosus (thermotolerant) are being reported for the first time. The growth rates of different fungi varied from 0·19-1·25 mm/hr at their optimum temperatures. Penicillium sp. the slowest and Thermoascus sp. were the fast growing fungi.