SOME CONDITIONS FAVORING PRODUCTION OF OCHRATOXIN A AND CITRININ BY PENICILLIUM VIRIDICATUM IN WHEAT AND BARLEY

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Abstract
Wheat, ground wheat, barley, and heat-treated wheat and barley were inoculated with different strains of Penicillium viridicatum Westling and incubated under different conditions of moisture content, relative humidity, temperature, and time. An important factor for production of ochratoxin A and citrinin was humidity. A water activity (aw) of 0.90–0.93 produced high concentrations of the mycotoxins. Below this aw, the native mycoflora developed along with P. viridicatum and concentrations of the mycotoxins were significantly lower. A temperature of 5 C did not prevent production of the toxins under conditions of high aw and extended storage. Viable barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat seed (Triticum aestivum L.) were less prone to mycotoxin production than nonviable seed. Samples exposed for short periods to conditions most favorable for P. viridicatum were not visibly moldy but contained ochratoxin A. Such material, if used, may present a hazard to farm animals and man.

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