Fig. 3

Heat resistance increase no longer observed after 43 h conidia detached from the mycelium. Three types of conidia were tested for their heat resistance: conidia from the 43 h timepoint, from the 68 h timepoint and conidia from the 43 h timepoint harvested dry and subsequently incubated for an additional 25 h. a, The methodology of the experiment. The 43 h and 68 h conidia were harvested in PS buffer as normal. However, some 43 h conidia were harvested dry using sterilized cotton buds and subsequently stored inside falcon tubes and returned to the 28 °C incubator for another 25 h. After 25 h, PS buffer was added, and the heat treatment assay was performed. b, Survival plates from the heat treatment assay. Conidia from the 43 h timepoint do not survive 10 min at 55 °C or 56 °C. In contrast, conidia from the 68 h timepoint do survive these heat treatments. When conidia from the 43 h timepoint are dry harvested and kept inside a falcon tube, returned to the incubator for another 25 h and subsequently tested for heat resistance, no increase in heat resistance is observed when compared to the conidia from the 43 h timepoint. These results show that maturation, at least in heat resistance, does no longer occur after conidia are detached, by dry harvesting, from the mycelium