title: Studies on the refrigerated storage of wheat (Triticum aestivum). 2. Ergosterol, xanthomegnin, viomellein and brevianamide A after inoculation with Penicillium viridicatum.
abstract: Wheat seed was adjusted to 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26% moisture content (m.c.), and stored for 240 days at 4 or 10 degrees C following inoculation with a strain of Penicillium viridicatum producing the toxins, xanthomegnin (XA), viomellein (VIO), and brevianamide A (BA). Wheat kernels were not sterilized before inoculation. The concentration of ergosterol (ERG), a chemical indicator of fungal biomass, remained constant at 18% m.c./4 degrees C, but increased under the other conditions. The time before a detectable increase of ERG concentration was higher and the rate of ERG production lower with decreasing moisture content and temperature. XA and BA were produced at both temperatures at 20-26% m.c., VIO was produced at 22-26% m.c./4 degrees C and 20-26% m.c./10 degrees C. The results suggest or indicate that the onset of XA, VIO and BA production (detection limits: 10, 15, and 0.1 micrograms/kg, respectively) coincided with the onset of ERG production. Maximum toxin contents were lower with decreasing moisture content at both temperatures, but were similar at 4 and 10 degrees C at 22-26% m.c. It is concluded that wheat contaminated with P. viridicatum should not be stored beyond the onset of ergosterol production; maximum storage periods are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tierernährung, Universität Hohenheim, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boley
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000032:analysis; D010407:Penicillium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D010879:Piperazines; D012034:Refrigeration; D012639:Seeds; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D009183:Mycotoxins; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D010879:Piperazines; D013141:Spiro Compounds; C009688:xanthomegnin; C006794:brevianamide A; C013735:viomellein; D004875:Ergosterol