STRUCTURE OF SOME ASPERGILLUS SPP. SLIDE-CULTURES UNDER PERIODIC INVESTIGATION
Experimental data on the structural organization of Aspergillus spp. on agar blocks while observing their growth in dynamics are presented. Strains of A. fumigatus RCPF F-1437, A. niger RCPF F-1445 & A. candidus RCPF F-1494 identified by morphology and MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry of cellular extracts as well as by targeted DNA-sequencing of taxonomically significant loci, were studied. Fungal microcultures were obtained on Czapek yeast extract agar blocks, the development of which was observed for up to 5 days for A. fumigatus and up to 15 days for A. niger and A. candidus with incubation at 24 °C. In general, strains of A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. candidus showed contrasting tendencies in their development: the first two were distinguished by the predominance of conidiophores over vegetative mycelium, rapid formation of conidial heads and the formation of aging signs in the culture at the end of observation period. The strain of A. candidus, on the other hand, was distinguished by the predominance of developed aerial mycelium over conidiophores; conidial sporulation here formed at a later stage. Data on the development of Aspergillus spp. microcultures and other micromycetes are needed to study their reactions to various influences, including antifungals, disinfectants, and microbial metabolites.