A simple method to study fungal spore germination on solid medium is proposed. Penicillium roqueforti conidia produced at 5 °C germinate up to 45h earlier than conidia produced at 20 °C. P. roqueforti and P. expansum conidia produced at 0.900 aw germinate up to 8h earlier than conidia produced at 0.980 aw. Delayed maturation is supposed to reduce the germination time as reflected by trehalose and mannitol content of conidia. The physiological state of conidia should be considered to design challenge tests or predictive mycology studies.