Nutrient requirements in germination of conidiospores of Aspergillus niger V. Tieghen.

Germination of conidiospores of A. niger was stimulated by the addition of some carbohydrates and nitrogenous compounds to the growth medium. Glucose at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml concentrations was the best sugar for germination. Sucrose and fructose were the second best. Glutamic acid and valine were the most effective nitrogenous compounds for the spore germination of the fungus. Glucose, sucrose, and glutamic acid initiated germination within the first 6 h of incubation. When cellobiose, galactose and valine were used germination started after 9 h. With leucine, cysteine and arginine, however, not only the percentage of germination reduced, but also the latent period increased, significantly. A period of 15 h was needed before germination had been started.