Ayerst’s
principle (Ayerst, 1969) seems to ;nd here substantial con-
;rmation. Studying moisture conditions and moulding of
stored cereal grain in UK, he found that fungi and bacteria
developing under optimal temperature conditions showed
greater tolerance to low moisture availability and, inversely,
under optimal moisture conditions microorganisms were
able to tolerate what in other circumstance would be unfavourable
temperature.