Abstract
The aim of this study was to define quantitative relationships between temperature and water
activity (aw), fungal growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production. A strain of A. flavus isolated
from maize in North Italy, and previously tested and found positive for AFB1 production, was
used for these experiments. The optimum temperature for AFB1 production was at 25°C,
slightly lower with respect to results obtained in other countries. 0.83 aw was the limit for
growth of this strain of A. flavus after 60 days incubation at the optimum temperature. The
solutes used to modify aw, glycerol and NaCl, influenced both growth and secondary
metabolite production. Media modified with glycerol resulted in more AFB1 production when
compared to the non-ionic solute NaCl added media. Maize based media, prepared with flour
obtained from kernels at different ripening stages, only slightly influenced growth rates of A.
flavus. The quantitative relationship obtained between fungal growth and AFB1 production in
diverse temperature and aw levels were used to develop a valid predictive model for A. flavus
presence and AFB1 production in the field.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 425-432 |
Numero di pagine | 8 |
Rivista | World Mycotoxin Journal |
Volume | 2011/4 |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2011 |
Keywords
- aw
- ecology
- maize
- temperature