title: Prediction of fungal growth and ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus ochraceus on irradiated barley grain as influenced by temperature and water activity.
abstract: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite of Aspergillus and Penicillium species, including Aspergillus ochraceus, a species that can be found in stored cereal grains such as barley. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of water activity (a(w), 0.80-0.99), temperature (10, 20, 30 degrees C), and A. ochraceus isolate differences on radial growth and OTA production in irradiated barley grains. The three isolates showed optimal conditions for growth and ochratoxin A production at 0.99 a(w) and 30 degrees C, with a marked decrease of growth rates and OTA production at the lowest levels of a(w) and temperature assayed. The minimum a(w) level for growth, observed in this study, was 0.85 and 0.90 a(w) for OTA production. Significant differences among the isolates were found. Lag phases prior to fungal growth and OTA production values were modelled by multiple linear regression and response surface models. These models could provide an approximate prediction of growth and OTA production.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Department, Lleida University, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanchis
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D001235:Aspergillus ochraceus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005514:Food Irradiation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D001467:Hordeum / Q000382:microbiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009793:Ochratoxins; D014867:Water; C025589:ochratoxin A