Nutritional requirements of keratinophilic fungi and dermatophytes for conidial germination

Germination of spores of Chrysosporium crassitunicatum, Nannizzia fulva (+), Nannizzia fulva (-) and Trichophyton equinum was studied in the presence of various carbon and nitrogen sources. Effect of different temperatures on spore germination was also determined. Maximum spore germination within 24 hours was recorded when glucose was used as a carbon source for all the test fungi. Except sodium nitrate all the inorganic nitrogen sources enhanced the spore germination at 0.05% concentration. Most of the organic nitrogen sources used were found to be stimulatory for the spore germination of test fungi. Optimum temperature i.e. 28 degrees C supported maximum spore germination of all the test fungi within 24 hours. C. Crassitunicatum, N. fulva (+), N. fulva (-) could germinate upto 35 degrees C but beyond that no spore germination was noticed in these fungi. T. equinum could germinate at a higher temperature of 40 degrees C but the percentage of germination was very low.