The low level of filamentous fungi isolated during cocoa bean
fermentation can be explained not only by the high population of
bacteria and yeasts, which have competitive advantage because of
their higher speed of multiplication and metabolites produced
during their growth (i.e. alcohol and organic acids) but also because
of the restrictive temperature, as this can rise above 45 C after
48 h. However, in our study, one exceptionwas the high prevalence
of Abs. corymbifera in 8 samples. This species of zygomycetes is able
to grow at temperatures of up to 54 C