Mould
growth
is
favoured
by
high
humidity,
moderate
temperature
and
diminished
light,
when
nutrients,
arc
present
in
the
fibers.
Bacteria
are
not
significant
causes
of
deterioration
of
plant
fibers,
because
only
a
few
aerobic
cellulose
digesting
species
are
known,
and
they
multiply
slowly.
On
the
other
hand,
proteins
of and
silk
are
degraded
equally
by
moulds,
actinomycetes,
and
bacteria.
The
treatment
that
a
fabric
receives
during
manufacture
on
the
affects
its
susceptibility
to
deterioration.
Starch
sizing
provides
added
nutrients
for
some
microorganisms.
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