Tp. Robinson et al., MODELING THE GROWTH OF CLOSTRIDIUM-SPOROGENES IN TOMATO JUICE CONTAMINATED WITH MOLD, Letters in applied microbiology, 19(3), 1994, pp. 129-133
Tubes of tomato juice agar were inoculated with Clostridium sporogenes
and an Aspergillus sp. and incubated aerobically. The clostridium onl
y grew when the Aspergillus was present. pH and oxygen concentration w
ere measured through the depths of the tubes. The Aspergillus grew as
a mat on the surface of the gel, removing oxygen and causing a local r
ise in pH. It was thought that the production of a microenvironment ad
jacent to the mycelial mat, consisting of raised pH and decreased oxyg
en concentration, enabled the clostridium to germinate and grow.