Substrate depletion during formation of aflatoxin and kojic acid on corn inoculated with Aspergillus flavus.
Depletion of sugar and starch carbon sources and concomitant formation of secondary fungal metabolites, aflatoxin and kojic acid, were examined in growing corn inoculated with Aspergillus flavus. Kernels from control and inoculated ears were removed and analyzed after 16, 24, 48, 96 and 168 hrs. Reducing sugars were not significantly different for inoculated and control non-inoculated samples, but after 168 hrs (seven days) starch content was 20% lower in inoculated than in control samples. Kojic acid was detected before aflatoxins formed. Kojic acid, the oxidized product of kojic acid, and aflatoxin were all present in samples two days from inoculation. The formation of this oxidation product may influence toxin levels.
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000378:metabolism*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011714:Pyrans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology*
D000348:Aflatoxins; D011714:Pyrans; D011753:Pyrones; C011890:kojic acid; D013213:Starch