Production of Mycotoxins by Penicillium Species

Summary One thousand four hundred Penicillium isolates, drawn from various culture collections or isolated from foods and feeds, were identified according to Pitt's classification. To confirm which species produce which mycotoxins, representative isolates were investigated for the synthesis of 18 mycotoxins. Isolates were grown on malt extract agar incubated for one to three weeks at 25°C. Thereafter the medium was extracted with chloroform, and the filtered, concentrated extracts used for mycotoxin analysis by TLC. The production of any particular mycotoxin was confirmed by using external standards in optimal developing systems with toxins visualized by the best visualizing methods. The 18 mycotoxins investigated were produced by one or more Penicillium species, as follows: brevianamid A by 3 species, citreoviridin (2), citrinin (3), cyclopiazonic acid (8), fumitremorgin B (1), griseofulvin (6), luteoskyrin (1), ochratoxin A (2), patulin (4), penicillic acid (2), penitrem A (1), PR-toxin (1), roquefortine (2), rugulosin (2), verrucosidin (1), verruculogen (1), viridicarumtoxin (2) and xanthomegnin (2). Mycotoxin production by the various species of Penicillium is quite distinctive and may be used as a valuable aid in their identification.