Chitin assays in the estimation of fungi

Spoilage by fungi is a very considerable problem throughout the world. A variety of different methods are available to detect and enumerate fungi. In this study enumeration of the fungus Aspergillus niger was carried out using a traditional microbiological "dilution plating" method involving total and viable counts of fungal spores. This assay gave inaccurate results and inconsistent data but it is not fundamentally flawed. The failure of this assay at counting fungal spores is due to the characteristics of spores. However, it can be used for the detection of fungi in variety of commodities. [Continues.]