Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The production of cyclopiazonic acid by Penicillium commune and cyclopiazonic acid and aflatoxins by Aspergillus flavus as affected by water activity and temperature on maize grains

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The combined effects of water activity (aw) and temperature on mycotoxin production by Penicilium commune (cyclopiazonic acid — CPA) and Aspergillus flavus (CPA and aflatoxins — AF) were studied on maize over a 14-day period using a statistical experimental design. Analysis of variance showed a highly significant interaction (P ≤ 0.001) between these factors and mycotoxin production. The minimum aw/temperature for CPA production (2264 ng g−1 P. commune, 709 ng g−1 A. flavus) was 0.90 aw/30 °C while greatest production (7678 ng g−1 P. commune, 1876 ng g−1 A. flavus) was produced at 0.98 aw/20 °C. Least AF (411 ng g−1) was produced at 0.90 aw/20 °C and most (3096 ng g−1) at 0.98 aw/30 °C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dutton MF, Robertson EJ, Matthews C, Beck BDA. Occurrence of mycotoxins in maize in rural areas in South Africa and methods of prevention of contamination and elimination. In: Taylor JRN, Randall PG, Viljoen JH (eds), Cereal Science and Technology on a Changing Africa. Pretoria South Africa: CSIR, 1993: 823–835.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hocking AD. Xerophillic fungi in intermediate and low moisture foods. In: Arora DK, Mukerji KG, Marth EH (eds), Handbook of Applied Mycology. vol 3. Foods and Feeds. New York, USA: Marcel Dekker, 1991: 69–97.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ominski KH, Marquardt RR, Sinha RN, Abramson D. Ecological aspects of growth and mycotoxin production by storage fungi. In: Miller JD, Trenholm HL (eds), Mycotoxins in Grain: Compounds Other Than Aflatoxin. Minnesota, USA: Eagan Press, 1991; 287–312.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chang-Yen I, Bidasee K. Improved spectrophotometric determination of cyclopiazonic acid in poultry feed. JAOAC 1990; 73: 257–259.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Norred WP. Cyclopiazonic acid: toxicity and tissue distribution. Vet Human Toxicol 1990; 20–26.

  6. Norred WP, Porter JK, Dorner JW, Cole RJ. Occurrence of the mycotoxin cyclopiazonic acid in meat after oral administration to chickens. J Agric Food Chem 1988; 36: 113–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dorner JW, Cole RJ, Erlington DJ, Suksupath S, McDowell GH, Bryden WL. Cyclopiazonic acid residues in ewe milk and chicken eggs. J Agri Food Chem 1994; 42: 1516–1518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Frisvad JC, Filtenborg O. Terverticillate penicillia: chemotaxonomy and mycotoxin production. Mycologia 1989; 81: 837–861.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hermansen K, Frisvad JC, Emborg C, Hansen J. Cyclopiazonic acid production by submerged cultures of Penicillium and Aspergillus strains. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1984; 21: 253–261.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pitt JI, Leistner L. Toxigenic Penicillium species. In: Smith JE, Henderson RS (eds), Mycotoxins and Animal Foods. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press, 1991; 81–100.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frisvad JC. The connection between the penicillia and aspergilli and mycotoxins with special emphasis on misidentified isolates. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 1989; 18: 452–467.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pitt JI, Cruickshank RH, Leistner L. Penicillium commune, P. camembertii the origin of white cheese moulds and the production of cyclopiazonic acid. Food Microbiol 1986; 3: 363–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee YJ, Hagler Jr WM. Aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid production by Aspergillus flavus isolated from contaminated maize. J Food Sci 1991; 56: 871–872.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Trucksess MW, Misilevic PB, Young K, Bruce VR, Page SW. Cyclopiazonic acid production by cultures of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium species isolated from dried beans, corn meal, macaroni and pecans. JAOAC 1987; 70: 123–126.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Urano T, Trucksess MW, Beaver BW, Wilson DM, Dorner JW, Dowell FE. Co-occurrence of cyclopiazonic acid and aflatoxins in corn and peanuts. JAOAC Int 1992; 75: 838–841.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Widiastuti R, Maryan R, Blaney BJ, Stoltz S, Stoltz DR. Cyclopiazonic acid in combination with aflatoxins zearalenone and ochratoxin A in Indonesian corn. Mycopathologia 1988; 104: 153–156.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. CAST. Mycotoxins: Economics and Health Risks Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Iowa, USA; Ames, 1989.

  18. IARC. Some Naturally Occurring Substances: Food Items and Constituents. Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines and Mycotoxins. Vol 56. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Lyon, France, 1993.

  19. Dorner JW, Cole RJ, Diener UL. The relationship of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus with references to production of aflatoxins and cyclopiazonic acid. Mycopathologia 1984; 87: 13–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Le Bars J. Cyclopiazonic acid production by Penicillium camembertii Thorn and natural occurrence of this mycotoxin in cheese. Appl Environ Microbiol 1979b; 38: 1052–1055.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rao LB, Hussain A. Presence of cyclopiazonic acid in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) causing ‘kodua poisoning’ in man and its production by associated fungi. Mycopathologia 1987; 89: 177–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Smith JE, Moss MO. Mycotoxins: Formation Analysis and Significance. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Richard JL, Peden WM, Thurston JR. Combined cyclopiazonic acid and aflatoxin B1 effects of serum bacteriostasis complement activity glycocholic acid and enzymes and histopathological changes in guinea pigs. In: Pohland AE, Dowell Jr VR, Richard JL (eds), Microbial Toxins in Foods and Feeds; Cellular and Molecular Modes of Action. New York, USA: Plenum, 1990; 411–419.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Frisvad JC, Samson RA. Filamentous fungi in foods and feeds: ecology spoilage and mycotoxin production. In: Arora DK, Mukerji KG, Marth EH (eds), Handbook of Applied Mycology. Vol 3. New York, USA: Marcel Dekker Inc, 1991; 32–68.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lacey J. Prevention of mold growth and mycotoxin production through control of environmental factors. In: Natori S, Hashimoto K, Ueno Y (eds). Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins '88. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier, 1989; 161–168.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Moss MO. The environmental factors controlling mycotoxin formation. In: Smith JE, Henderson RS. (eds), Mycotoxins and Animal Foods. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press, 1991: 37–56.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Cuero RG, Smith JE, Lacey J. Interaction of water activity temperature and substrate on mycotoxin production by Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium viridicatum and Fusarium graminearum in irradiated grains. Trans Brit Mycol Soc 1987; 89: 221–226.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Cuero RG, Smith JE, Lacey J. Mycotoxin formation by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum in irradiated maize grains in the presence of other fungi. J Food Prot 1988; 51: 452–456.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Faraj MK, Smith JE, Harran G. Interaction of water activity and temperature on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus in irradiated maize seeds. Food Add Contam 1991; 8: 731–736.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Le Bars J. Cyclopiazonic acid bioproduction by Penicillium camemberti Thom: Effect of temperature on individual strains. Annal Rech Veterin 1979a; 10: 601–602.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Abramson D, Sinha RN, Mills JT. Mycotoxin formation in HY-320 wheat during granary storage at 15 and 19% moisture content. Mycopathologia 1990; 111: 181–189.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Ellis WO, Smith JP, Simpson BK, Ramaswamy H. Effect of inoculum level on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions. Food Microbiol 1993; 10: 525–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sinha RN, Abramson D, Mills JT. Interrelations among ecological variables in stored cereals and associations with mycotoxin production in the climatic zones of Western Canada, J Food Prot 1986; 49: 608–614.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Box GEP, Hunter WG, Hunter JS. Statistics for Experimenters: An Introduction to Design Data Analysis and Model Building. Wiley and Sons: New York, USA, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Haltrich D, Laussamayer B, Steiner W. Xylanase formation by Sclerotium rolfsii: effect of growth substrates and development of a culture medium using statistically designed experiments. Appl Microbiol Biotech 1994; 42: 522–530.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Lewis CW, Smith JE, Anderson JG, Murad YM. The presence of mycotoxin-associated fungal spores isolated from the indoor air of the damp domestic environment and cytotoxic to human cell lines. Indoor Environ 1994; 3: 323–330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Gervais P, Molin P, Grajek M, Bensoussan M. Influence of the water activity of a solid substrate on the growth rate and sporogenesis of filamentous fungi. Biotech Bioengin 1988; 31: 457–463.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Pixton SW, Warburton S. Moisture content/relative humidity equilibrium of some cereal grains to different temperatures. J Stored Prod Res 1971; 6: 283–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Cuero RG, Smith JE, Lacey J. A novel containment system for laboratory scale solid paniculate fermentations. Biotech Lett 1985; 7: 463–466.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Gorst-Allman CP, Steyn PS. Screening methods for the detection of thirteen common mycotoxins. J Chromat 1979; 175; 325–331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Gimeno A. Thin layer chromatographic determination of aflatoxins, ochratoxins, sterigmatocystin, zearalenone, citrinin, T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol penicillic acid patulin and penitrem A. JAOAC 1979; 62: 579–585.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Trucksess MW, Stack ME, Nesheim S, Page SW, Albert RH, Hansen TJ, Donahue KF. Immunoaffinity column coupled with solution fluorometry or liquid chromatography postcolumn derivatization for determination of aflatoxins in corn peanuts and peanut butter: collaborative study. JAOAC 1991; 74: 81–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Magan N, Lacey J. Effect of water activity and temperature on mycotoxin production by Alternaria alternata in culture and on wheat grain. Appl Environ Microbiol 1984; 47: 1113–1117.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Wagener RE, Davies ND, Diener UL. Penitrem A and roquefortine production Penicillium commune. Appl Environ Microbiol 1980; 39: 882–887.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Miller JD. Fungi and mycotoxins in grain: implication for stored product research. J Stored Prod Res 1995; 31: 1–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. N. Gqaleni

    Present address: Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Natal, Private Bag 7, 4013, Congella, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, G1 1XW, Glasgow

    N. Gqaleni & J. E. Smith

  2. IACR-Rothamsted, AL5 2JQ, Harpenden, Herts

    J. Lacey

  3. Department of Statistics and Modelling Science, University of Strathclyde, 26 Richmond Street, G1 1XH, Glasgow, UK

    G. Gettinby

Authors
  1. N. Gqaleni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. E. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Lacey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Gettinby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. E. Smith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gqaleni, N., Smith, J.E., Lacey, J. et al. The production of cyclopiazonic acid by Penicillium commune and cyclopiazonic acid and aflatoxins by Aspergillus flavus as affected by water activity and temperature on maize grains. Mycopathologia 136, 103–108 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437503

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437503

Key words

Search

Navigation