ARS | Publication request: MYCOTOXIN PRODUCING ABILITY OF ASPERGILLUS TAMARII

Submitted to: Mycotoxins
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aflatoxin is a cancer causing agent produced by some fungi which contaminates oilseed crops, and it is important that we know all of the potential aflatoxin producing mold species common to agriculture to prevent it from entering the food chain. A recent report of aflatoxin production by a strain of A. tamarii isolated from soil in Japan caused us to examine 45 A. tamarii cultures from agricultural habitats for ability to produce aflatoxins. Only one of these cultures, received in 1923 from Brazil, NRRL 443, produced aflatoxins. These results show that aflatoxin production by A. tamarii occurs very infrequently and should pose no significant threat.

Technical Abstract: Aspergillus tamarii Kita (A. tamarii) is known to produce mycotoxins such as cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and kojic acid (KA). Recently we isolated several cultures of A. tamarii from Japanese tea fields and found one of the isolates produced substantial quantities of aflatoxin B1 and B2. Here we report the results of a limited survey of 15 A. tamarii strains isolated from Japanese tea fields, one strain from silk worm excrement and 29 strains received from culture collections. Most A. tamarii isolates produced CPA and KA but only the previously mentioned isolates and strain NRRL 443 produced aflatoxin B1 and B2. Each aflatoxin-producing strain of A. tamarii showed yellow-green colors in young colonies and did not darken in age, suggestive of the "bronze series." The relation between the levels of CPA or KA production by the individual strains was very weak.