Microbiology Flashcards
Saprophytic
feed on dead or decaying matter eg fungi
Parasitic
feed on living matter eg athletes foot
Aerobic
needs oxygen for growth
Anaerobic
oxygen is not needed for growth
Faculatitive
these microbes will grow with or without oxygen
Psychrophiles
these microbes prefer low temperatures 5-20 degrees
Mesophiles
most microbes thrive at this temperature 20-45 degrees
Thermophiles
prefer temperatures above 45 degrees
Moisture
necessary for all microbes to metabolise
low water content can reduce the growth of microbes in food
pH level
most prefer a neutral pH
Moulds
multicellular
contaminate many foods
start as single celled spore
conditions required for the growth of moulds
Food- most are saprophytic
Oxygen- generally aerobic
Temperature- most are mesophiles
Moisture- moist & humid conditions
pH- acidic environment ( 4-6 pH)
Time- needed for growth
Structure of Moulds
spore lands on suitable conditions produces a hypha
hypha grows down to absorb nutrients for growth
as hypha grows into many hyphae
hyphae become interwined and form a branched mycelium
when mycelium is established, some hyphae will grow upwards and produce sporangium or conidia
Asexual Reproduction
occurs when the mycelium is well established on the food
head can either br conidia or sporangium
wen ripe sporangium bursts releasing the spores
conidia breaks off releasing the spores
spores are carried by air until they reach a suitable food
Types of moulds
Phycomycetes
Ascomycetes