ADVANCES IN THE PREDICTIVE MODELING OF FUNGAL GROWTH IN FOOD

Mathematical modelling of fungal growth, and the ability to predict wh ether a particular fungus will grow in a food, and if so at what rate, has not received a similar degree of interest as modelling of bacteri al growth. One of the main problems is the difficulty of acquiring suf ficient, reproducible data that are suitable for modelling. In this re view, we aim to introduce the principles of modelling of fungal growth and summarize some of the recent literature that describes the applic ation of modelling and predictive techniques to yeasts and moulds. Par ticular attention has been paid to the use of automated methods for as sessing growth.