Control of Penicillium martensii Development and Penicillic Acid Production by Atmospheric Gases and Temperatures

Abstract

The effects of various gaseous environments and temperatures on development of Penicillium martensii NRRL 3612 and production of penicillic acid (PA) were determined. Accumulation of PA in mold-inoculated corn was measured following incubation under air; 20% CO2, 20% O2, 60% N2; 40% CO2, 20% 02, 40% N2; and 60% CO2, 20% O2, 20% N2. Although reduced temperature initially inhibited PA production, at the end of the trial the largest quantity of PA (120 ug/g of corn) was found in air-incubated corn at the lowest test temperature (5 C). Atmospheres enriched with 60% CO2 reduced PA accumulation below a detectable level at 5 and 10 C after a 4-week incubation period. Spore germination tests were carried out in a liquid growth medium incubated for 16 hr under several test conditions. Germ tube outgrowth at 30 C ranged from 36% in air to 2% in 60% CO2, whereas no germination was observed in CO2-enriched gases at 10 C. When spore respiration rates were measured in air and 02 in a liquid growth medium, complete removal of CO2 from the reaction atmosphere did not reduce 0 2 uptake.

Ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus ochraceus Wilhelm grown under controlled atmospheres

“…The common way to prevent mycotoxin, including ochratoxin, production is to avoid mold growth on foodstuffs by either fungistatic agents or physical means (cooling, aeration, drying, modified atmospheres, etc.). Since the use of modified atmospheres has shown promising results in controlling insects in stored products (1,3), the effects of such atmospheres on the growth of storage fungi and the subsequent production of mycotoxins were studied (2,5,6,15).…”

Production of Patulin by Penicillium expansum

“…Modified atmospheres containing high concentrations of CO2 (20 to 60%) reduced growth of Penicillium martensii and penicillic acid production in corn (10). High levels of CO2 (20 to 100%) or low concentrations of 02 (<5%) dramatically reduced growth of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin accumulation in peanuts (9).…”

“…After inoculation, the flasks were incubated at 23 C for 24 h before transfer to constant-temperature rooms (± 1 C). Forty flasks were incubated without agitation at each of the following temperatures: 0, 5,10,15,20,25, and 30 C. At intervals of 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the temperature, 15-ml portions of broth were removed from each of two flasks for patulin analysis as described above. The mycelial mats were transferred to tared Buchner funnels and washed with the aid of vacuum.…”

Inhibition of T-2 toxin production on high-moisture corn kernels by modified atmospheres

“…This means was found to be effective against storage pests in field studies and it seems to be most attractive, since the risk of chemical residues is avoided. The effect of MAs was studied with respect to production of aflatoxin (3,9,17), ochratoxin (15), patulin (14), and penicillic acid (10), among others.…”