MODELING THE GROWTH OF CLOSTRIDIUM-SPOROGENES IN TOMATO JUICE CONTAMINATED WITH MOLD

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.