Abstract

GONCALEZ, Edlayne et al. Production of aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid by Aspergillus flavus strains isolate from peanuts. Arq. Inst. Biol. [online]. 2013, vol.80, n.3, pp.312-317. ISSN 1808-1657.  https://doi.org/10.1590/S1808-16572013000300008.

Aspergillus flavus is a filamentous fungus that can produce aflatoxins and cyclopiazonic acid, and the presence of these mycotoxins in food and feed can lead to a toxic effect on humans and animals. Strains of A. flavus producing aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid are often isolated from peanuts, indicating the the co-occcurrence of these toxins in the natural substrate. In this study, we isolated 47 strains of A. flavus on peanut kernels and hulls during different stages of fruit ripening and its storage. Of the isolated strains, we assessed the potential for aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid production, in which 91.5% could produce aflatoxins and 70% produced cyclopiazonic acid; 63.8% produced both toxins and 2.1% produced no toxin. The presence of toxigenic A. flavus strains in peanut samples indicate a potential risk of contamination of these products, if they are exposed to environmental conditions that are favorable to fungal growth and mycotoxin production.

Keywords : mycotoxins; toxigenic fungi; mycotoxin production; occcurrence.

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