Abstract
Mycotoxin co-occurrence compromises the safety of food crops worldwide. Environmental factors, as well as fungal interaction, can substantially influence the infectivity of mycotoxigenic fungi and their subsequent production of multi-mycotoxin. Here, we investigated the mutual effects of the co-culture of ochratoxigenic and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains on the co-production of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Single cultures of ochratoxigenic A. carbonarius and A. alliaceus grew optimally at 25 °C, whereas aflatoxigenic A. flavus grew optimally at 35 °C. The maximum levels of OTA and AFB1 were achieved at 25 °C, whereas mycotoxin production decreased at 35 °C. During competitive growth of the ochratoxigenic and aflatoxigenic isolates, inhibition or stimulation of mycotoxin production was dependent on the fungal strain, temperature, and the ratio of the spore concentration. Aspergillus carbonarius and A. alliaceus generally produced OTA, with similar patterns of relative OTA levels at all temperatures. AFB1 production by A. flavus in the presence of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus species was inhibited at 25 °C and stimulated at 35 °C. These results indicated that the temperature, presence of other mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species, and ratio of the initial spore concentration significantly contributed to the co-production of OTA and AFB1.
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Abbreviations
- AFB1:
-
Aflatoxin B1
- OTA:
-
Ochratoxin A
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The Scientific Equipment and Research Division, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Bangkok, Thailand, kindly provided supporting laboratory facilities.
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This work was supported by the Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute, (KURDI) Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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CC: performed experiments and analyzed the data. TM: analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. WM: designed study, analyzed data, and edited the manuscript.
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Chuaysrinule, C., Maneeboon, T. & Mahakarnchanakul, W. Mutual effects on mycotoxin production during co-culture of ochratoxigenic and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains. Mycotoxin Res 39, 57–66 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-022-00473-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-022-00473-z