Influence of activation and germination on high pressure inactivation of ascospores of the mould Eurotium repens.

We investigated heat activation and germination of Eurotium repens ascospores to follow high pressure inactivation. Activation energy and entropy values strengthen the idea of protein denaturation as the underlying mechanism of heat activation. Preceding activation, germination or a combination of both affected high pressure inactivation in different ways. Activation followed immediately by high pressure treatment led to the most efficient improvement in inactivation. However, a pause after activation caused a partial re-establishment of the spores' stability and less efficient high pressure inactivation. Germination stabilized the spores against high pressure. A combined treatment of activation and germination led to an initially fast inactivation, but compared to high pressure treatment of only activated spores the time course of inactivation was slowed down.