COMPARISON OF RESISTANCE OF FUNGAL SPORES TO GAMMA-BEAM AND ELECTRON-BEAM RADIATION

The irradiation sensitivity of fungal spores to either gamma or electr on beam irradiation was evaluated in distilled water. The D-10 (the do se required to reduce the initial population by 90%) gamma values rang ed from 0.236 to 0.416 kGy and from 0.209 to 0.319 kGy for Penicillium and Aspergillus species, respectively. The D,, electron beam values r anged from 0.194 to 0.341 and from 0.198 to 0.243 kGy for Penicillium and Aspergillus species, respectively. Of the aspergilli species evalu ated, only half exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) greater sensitivity to the electron beam treatment compared to gamma irradiation. Four of the six penicillia species evaluated also exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher sensitivities to electron beam treatment.