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Effect of water activity, temperature, and incubation period on fungal growth and ochratoxin A production on Nyjer seeds

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Abstract

Aspergillus fresenii and Aspergillus sulphureus produce ochratoxin A (OTA), which is a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus and Penicillium species, with nephrotoxic effects and potential carcinogenic activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of temperature (20, 30, and 37 °C), water activity (0.82, 0.86, 0.90, 0.94, and 0.98 aw), incubation period (5, 10, 15, and 30 days) on fungal growth, and OTA production by A. fresenii and A. sulphureus on Nyjer oil seeds. There was no fungal growth at 0.82 aw. The two fungal species were able to produce OTA from the fifth day of incubation from 0.86 to 0.98 aw and temperature 20 to 37 °C. Aspergillus fresenii produced the highest concentration of OTA (643 μg/kg) at 0.90 aw and 37 °C within 15 days, while A. sulphureus produced the highest level of OTA (724 μg/kg) at 0.98 aw and 20 °C within 10 days. The optimum water activity and temperature for the growth of both fungi were similar at 0.94 aw and at 30 °C. There was statistically significant difference between the levels of OTA production among the two fungi. Overall, A. sulphureus produced significantly higher levels of OTA (p < 0.05). Higher temperature (37 °C) and 0.90–0.94 aw were optimal for OTA production by A. fresenii. Our results show that Nyjer seeds can support the growth of A. fresenii and A. sulphureus and OTA production, and the two species had similar temperature and water activity requirements for growth but different requirements for OTA production on Nyjer seeds.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jessica Orr for her valuable assistance in the laboratory. We also thank Susan Delatorre for ordering the various laboratory items required for the research.

Funding

This study is supported with a graduate research assistantship to Yung-Chen Hsu by the College of Engineering and Science at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) and financial support for the research by PNW.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Physics, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN, 46323, USA

    Dawit Gizachew

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN, 46323, USA

    Yung-Chen Hsu & Wei-tsyi Evert Ting

  3. Schererville, IN, 46375, USA

    Barbara Szonyi

Authors
  1. Dawit Gizachew
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  2. Yung-Chen Hsu
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  3. Barbara Szonyi
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  4. Wei-tsyi Evert Ting
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Correspondence to Dawit Gizachew.

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Barbara Szonyi is an independent consultant.

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Gizachew, D., Hsu, YC., Szonyi, B. et al. Effect of water activity, temperature, and incubation period on fungal growth and ochratoxin A production on Nyjer seeds. Mycotoxin Res 35, 1–8 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-018-0325-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-018-0325-2

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