Viability and physiological state transitions of Rhizopus oligosporus sporangiospores in tempe starter culture

N.V. Thanh, F.M. Rombouts, M.J.R. Nout

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The viability and various physiological characteristics of individual sporangiospores of Rhizopus oligosporus in tempe starter cultures that had been stored for 8, 10, 16 and 30 months were examined by flow cytometry in combination with fluorescent dyes. Besides live, dead, and dormant spores we distinguished a category of sublethally damaged spores. Results indicated that the shelf-life of tempe starters was not limited by the death of spores, but by sublethal damage to spores as well as by dormancy which can be overcome by resuscitation, respiratory activation. During storage, the number of dormant and sublethally damaged spores increased: the longer the starter cultures were stored, the less dormant spores could still be activated. In contrast, the transition from sublethally damaged (spores that are not able to transform cFDA and emit green fluorescence except by activation treatment) to activated spores did not decrease with longer storage. However, after very long (30 months) storage, sublethally damaged spores could still be activated but could not germinate anymore. The shelf-life of spores in tempe starter is related to the physiological state of spores being sublethally damaged; a mechanism of physiological state transitions of R. oligosporus sporangiospores is proposed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-44
JournalAntonie van Leeuwenhoek: Nederlandsch tijdschrift voor hygiëne, microbiologie en serologie
Volume91
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Keywords

  • flow-cytometric analysis
  • micrococcus-luteus
  • escherichia-coli
  • stationary-phase
  • bacteria
  • resuscitation
  • germination
  • dormancy
  • cells
  • microorganisms

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