A population morphologically structured model for microscopic growth of filamentous microorganism

The growth of filamentous microorganism is contributed by tip extension and branching. The microscopic growth of filamentous microorganism means the g rowth process from one or a few spores. In order to describe the microscopi c process, a population morphologically structured model is proposed, in wh ich three morphological compartment and their interactions were considered, and the heterogeneity of hyphal growth was included. The model was applied to describe the microscopic growth of Streptomyces tendae and Geotrichum c andidum with good agreement. From model prediction, it is concluded that if the number of hyphae is large enough (macroscopic growth), the specific gr owth rate of filamentous microorganism and the ratio of morphological forms in hyphae will become constant.