xii. a.i Brill, Parker, and Yates: Copra and Coconut Oil 69 



The destruction of oil caused by this mold acting for a period 

 of one month under favorable conditions is found to be from 

 about 30 to 40 per cent of the total oil contained in anhydrous 

 copra, while there is a very considerable production of free fatty 

 acid, which shows the deterioration in quality of the oil remain- 

 ing. As this mold may occur on copra with a fairly small water 

 content, a large part of the Philippine copra is subject to its 

 attack. Under favorable conditions it may destroy as much 

 as 40 per cent of the oil. Since the probable loss caused by 

 brown mold averages nearly 25 per cent, it is evident that the 

 loss to the Philippines from this cause alone equals a very con- 

 siderable portion of the value of the copra exported. 



PENICILLIUM GLAUCUM LINK (GREEN MOLD) 



This is the common green mold often seen upon copra. It 

 grows well on copra containing a very low percentage of water. 

 Analyses show that this mold destroys hardly any of the oil in 

 the copra, and the production of free acid is low ; therefore a good 

 grade of oil can be made from copra upon which this mold has 

 growth. Its growth appears to be almost entirely superficial. 

 It can be readily removed by brushing, leaving a firm white copra. 

 A growth of Penicillium alone may be said almost to serve as 

 an indicator of good copra, because it grows at a moisture con- 

 tent between 5 and 7 per cent, causes practically no loss in the 

 oil content, and produces very little free acid. However, green 

 mold growing with one or both of the species of Aspergillus loses 

 its significance as an indicator of good copra, as it will grow at 

 any degree of moisture higher than 5 or 6 per cent, and the 

 Aspergillus indicates a high moisture content. The reason green 

 mold does not usually appear upon copra with a high degree of 

 moisture is because of its slow rate of growth. The spores ger- 

 minate in hanging drops in about six and one-half hours, but the 

 subsequent growth is slow, and colonies upon copra do not be- 

 come visible to the naked eye until from about twenty-four to 

 thirty-six hours after the spores are placed upon it. The colony 

 grows very slowly, and mature colonies from a single spore are 

 hardly ever more than 1 centimeter in diameter. The spores are 

 mature in about eleven hours after the mycelium becomes visible. 

 Due to the much more rapid growth of the other molds, Peni- 

 cillium is either crowded out or covered over by them, and 

 under high moisture conditions it is only after the other molds 

 have stopped growing that Penicillium becomes visible. 



Oil loss caused by Penicillium (green mold) upon copra. — 

 Table X shows the effect of green mold upon the oil content of 



