Toxigenic fungi isolated from dried vine fruits in Argentina

ROMERO S. M; COMERIO R. M.; LARUMBE A. G.; RITIENI A.; VAAMONDE G.; FERNÁNDEZ PINTO V.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2005 vol. 104 p. 43 - 49

0168-1605

To evaluate the potential for mycotoxin production by fungi in dried vine fruits, the mycobiota was determined both beforeand after surface disinfection. Predominant genera were Aspergillus (50.2%), Eurotium (21.4%) and Penicillium (13.5%).Aspergillus section Nigri (bblack aspergilliQ) were isolated with relatively high frequency. Aspergillus niger was the mostcommon species but only 3 of 293 isolates screened were ochratoxin A (OTA) producers. Aspergillus carbonarius was lesscommon but 96% of 48 strains screened were ochratoxigenic. OTA was not produced by A. japonicus. Other toxigenic fungidetected were A. ochraceus (3 strains produced OTA), Aspergillus flavus (5 strains produced cyclopiazonic acid but notaflatoxins), P. citrinum (19 strains were strong citrinin producers) and Alternaria alternata (15 strains were producers oftenuazonic acid, alternariol and alternariol methyl ether). In spite of the high incidence of A. carbonarius capable of producingOTA, low levels of this toxin were detected in the samples analysed.