Effect of ultraviolet light irradiation on viability and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus.
The effect of ultraviolet light irradiation (254 nm) on both the viability and the aflatoxin-producing ability of the fungus Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999, a good aflatoxin-producing strain, was studied. This strain showed noticeable resistance and irradiation for more than 10 min was necessary to reduce survival to under 10%, while the white mutants were more susceptible (5 min of irradiation reduced survival to under 1%). Induction of mutants with complete loss of aflatoxigenicity was rare and only 3 of the 1463 survivors tested were aflatoxinless.
Departamento de Microbiologia, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
M A
MA
Moreno
M C
MC
Ramos
A
A
González
G
G
Suárez
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003470:Culture Media; D009154:Mutation; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000348:Aflatoxins; D003470:Culture Media