| Like most fungi, the Wallemia
sp can be found in soil. It has also been isolated in
hay, fruits and textiles. This species are also commonly
present in food, specifically the sugary variety and salted
meats. Because this fungus is a frequent colonizer of
the aforementioned food items, people should be more careful
before eating or serving them.
Wallemia sp colonies are slow-growing. Their appearance
is characterized by brittle to feathery texture, and
the color is often deep brown. The dimensions of the
conidia (or spores) of Wallemia sp is 2.5 to 3.5 microns.
This species is best known for having an aw of 0.75.
Water activity (aw) measures the intensity with which
water goes with solids and other non-aqueous matter.
A higher water activity allows for the growth of microorganisms
such as fungi, which requires at least a 0.7 water activity.
Most molds are inhibited with a .80 aw.
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