Dynamic modelling of the growth of a surface fungal colony.
The growth of a surface fungal colony in the three-dimensional space was modeled kinetically. The present analysis led to the conclusion that the radius of a fungal colony increases exponentially in the initial period followed by a constant increase in its radius at large times. This is justified by analyzing the available experimental data. The elevation of a fungal colony was limited by a balance of the transport of protoplasm inside a growing hyphae and a maintenance factor. A numerical simulation revealed that a typical fungal colony had a disk-shaped base with a flat top and a side face generated by rotating a concave upward curve about a vertical axis.
Hsu
J P
JP
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, R.O.C.
Tsao
H K
HK
Chen
T H
TH
D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development*; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological