High-oxygen and high-carbon dioxide containing atmospheres inhibit growth of food associated moulds

S W Hoogerwerf, E P W Kets, J Dijksterhuis

    Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

    30 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the growth of three foodborne fungi and high-oxygen modified atmosphere.

    METHODS AND RESULTS: Petri dishes were incubated in a series of connected flasks, which were placed in a climatized room and flushed continuously with the desired gas atmosphere. A combination of 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide resulted in reduced growth of Rhizopus stolonifer, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium discolor compared with ambient atmosphere conditions. Combining 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide at 10 degrees C arrested growth of B. cinerea for 17 d while an elevated carbon dioxide concentration only inhibited growth up to 11 d. In addition, the peroxidase activity was doubled at 80% oxygen and decreased when 10% carbon dioxide was present.

    IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates the potential use of elevated oxygen levels in a modified atmosphere to inhibit food-associated mould growth.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)419-22
    Number of pages4
    JournalLetters in Applied Microbiology
    Volume35
    Issue number5
    Publication statusPublished - 2002

    Keywords

    • Atmosphere
    • Botrytis
    • Carbon Dioxide
    • Food Microbiology
    • Fungi
    • Oxygen
    • Penicillium
    • Peroxidase
    • Rhizopus

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'High-oxygen and high-carbon dioxide containing atmospheres inhibit growth of food associated moulds'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this