Abstract
It is without doubt that there is no fungal growth without water. This relationship should underlie any control strategy for indoor fungal growth, but appears to be more complex than commonly assumed. In microbiology, the water relations of fungi are commonly studied under well-defined, stable conditions of water activity and temperature. The actual reality of the indoor environment, however, can be highly transient. Time dependent changes in humidity, temperature and air movements introduce inertia effects both in the biological system of the growing fungus and the physical system of materials, constructions and building. Typically, fluctuations in the environmental parameters can be grouped into two categories.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Adan OCG (1994) On the fungal defacement of interior finishes. PhD thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 224 pp
Adan OCG and Samson RA (1994) Fungal disfigurement of interior finishes. In: Singh J (ed.) Building mycology. Management of decay and health in buildings. Chapman and Hall, London, UK, pp. 130–158.
Andrews S and Pitt JI (1987) Further studies on the water relations of xerophilic fungi, including some halophiles. J Gen Microbiol 133: 233–238.
Ayerst G (1969) The effects of moisture and temperature on growth and spore germination in some fungi. J Stored Prod Res 5: 127–141.
Becker R and Puterman M (1987) Verhütung von Schimmelbildung in Gebäuden. Teil 2: Einfuß der Oberfächenmaterialien. Bauphysik 4: 107–110.
Becker R, Puterman M and Laks J (1986) The effect of porosity of emulsion paints on mould growth. Durability Build Mat 3: 369–380.
Bravery AF (1985) Mould and its control. Information Paper 11/85, Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford, UK.
Chen AW and Griffin DM (1966) Soil physical factors and the ecology of fungi IV. Interaction between temperature and soil moisture. Trans Br Mycol Soc 49: 551–562.
Coppock JBM and Cookson ED (1951) The effect of humidity on mould growth on constructional materials. J Sci Food Agric 2: 534–537.
Flannigan B and Miller JD (2001) Microbial growth in indoor environments. In: Flannigan B, Samson RA and Miller JD (eds.) Microorganisms in home and indoor work environments. Diversity, health impacts, investigation and control. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, pp. 35–68.
Francis A (1987) Schimmelproblemen in gebouwen. Determinatie, groei-omstandigheden, gevoeligheid van diverse afwerkingen, bestrijding. PhD Thesis, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Gaudy AF and Gaudy ET (1980) Microbiology for environmental scientists and engineers. McGraw-Hill Book Company, London, UK.
Grant C, Hunter CA, Flannigan B and Bravery AF (1989) The moisture requirements of moulds isolated from domestic dwellings. Int Biodeterioration 25: 259–284.
Grinbergs L, Hyppel A, Höglund I and Ottoson G (1993) Wet-room wall systems – Mould resistance. In: Erhorn H, Reiß J and Szerman M (eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium Energy Efficient Buildings (Design, Performance and Operation) of the CIB Working Commission W67 “Energy Conservation in the Built Environment” and IEA-SHC Working Task Group XIII “Low Energy Buildings”, March 9-11, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, IRB Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.
Harrewijn GA (1979) Elementaire microbiologie. Centraal Instituut voor Voedingsonderzoek TNO, Zeist, the Netherlands.
Lacey J, Hill ST and Edwards MA (1980) Micro-organisms in stored grains: their enumeration and significance. Trop Stored Prod Inform 39: 19–33.
Magan N and Lacey J (1984) Effect of temperature and pH on water relations of field and storage fungi. Trans Br Mycol Soc 82: 71–81.
Morgenstern J (1982) Einfuß von Polyvinylacetat-Zusätzen in Putzmortel auf die Schimmelbildung. Material und Organismen 17: 241–251.
Park D (1982) Phylloplane fungi: tolerance of hyphal tips to drying. Trans Br Mycol Soc 79: 174–178.
Pasanen A-L, Heinonen-Tanski H, Kalliokoski P and Jantunen MJ (1992) Fungal micro-colonies on indoor surfaces – an explanation for the base level fungal spore counts in indoor air. Atmos Environ 26: 121–124.
Read ND, Porter R and Beckett A (1983) A comparison of preparative techniques for the examination of the external morphology of fungal material with the scanning electron microscope. Can J Bot 61: 2059–2078.
Scott WJ (1957) Water relations of food spoilage microorganisms. In: Mark EM and Steward GF (eds.), Advances in food research. Academic Press, New York, NY, USA, pp. 83–127.
Smith SL and Hill ST (1982) Influence of temperature and water activity on germination and growth of Aspergillus restrictus and A. versicolor. Trans Br Mycol Soc 79: 558–559.
Van der Well GK and Adan OCG (1999) Moisture in organic coatings – a review. Progr in Organic Coatings 37: 1–14.
Van Wetter MA, Wösten HAB, Sietsma JH and Wessels JG (2000) Hydrophobin gene expression affects hyphal wall composition in Schizophyllum commune. Fungal Genet Biol 31: 99–104.
Viitanen HA (1997) Modelling the time factor in the development of mould fungi – the effect of critical humidity and temperature conditions on pine and spruce sapwood. Holzforschung 51: 6–14.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Wageningen Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Adan, O.C.G., Huinink, H.P., Bekker, M. (2011). Water relations of fungi in indoor environments. In: Adan, O.C.G., Samson, R.A. (eds) Fundamentals of mold growth in indoor environments and strategies for healthy living. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-722-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-722-6_2
Publisher Name: Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen
Online ISBN: 978-90-8686-722-6
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)