Which term describes organisms that grow at low temperatures but prefer moderate temperatures around 15-30°C?

Which term describes organisms that grow at low temperatures but prefer moderate temperatures around 15-30°C?

• A. Psychrophile
• B. Mesophile
• C. Thermophile
• D. Psychrotroph

Answer: (D)

Organisms that can grow in the cold but have their best growth in the moderate range around 15–30°C are psychrotrophs. The important idea is the distinction between being able to grow at low temperatures and having an optimum growth temperature in the 15–30°C window. Psychrotrophs can grow at refrigerator temperatures (near 0°C) yet their fastest growth occurs around 20–30°C, which sets them apart from true cold-loving psychrophiles (optimum below 15°C) and from mesophiles (optimum roughly 20–40°C) or thermophiles (optimum well above 45°C). This concept helps explain why psychrotrophs are often involved in food spoilage in refrigerated foods as temperatures rise toward room temperature.

Organisms that can grow in the cold but have their best growth in the moderate range around 15–30°C are psychrotrophs. The important idea is the distinction between being able to grow at low temperatures and having an optimum growth temperature in the 15–30°C window. Psychrotrophs can grow at refrigerator temperatures (near 0°C) yet their fastest growth occurs around 20–30°C, which sets them apart from true cold-loving psychrophiles (optimum below 15°C) and from mesophiles (optimum roughly 20–40°C) or thermophiles (optimum well above 45°C). This concept helps explain why psychrotrophs are often involved in food spoilage in refrigerated foods as temperatures rise toward room temperature.