Detection and quantification of Aspergillus section Flavi spp. in stored peanuts by real-time PCR of nor-1 gene, and effects of storage conditions on aflatoxin production.
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are the main species from section Flavi responsible for aflatoxin accumulation in stored peanuts. A real-time PCR (RT-PCR) system directed against the nor-1 gene of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway as target sequence was applied to monitor and quantify Aspergillus section Flavi population in peanuts. Kernels were conditioned at four water activity (a(W)) levels and stored during a 4-month period. The quantification of fungal genomic DNA in naturally contaminated peanut samples was performed using TaqMan fluorescent probe technology. Sensitivity tests demonstrated that DNA amounts accounting for a single conidium of A. parasiticus RCP08300 can be detected. A standard curve relating nor-1 copy numbers to colony forming units (cfu) was constructed. Counts of species of Aspergillus section Flavi from unknown samples obtained by molecular and conventional count (CC) methodologies were compared. A correlation between cfu data obtained by RT-PCR and CC methods was observed (r=0.613; p<0.0001); and the former always showed values higher by 0.5-1 log units. A decrease of fungal density was observed throughout the storage period, regardless of the quantification methodology applied. Total aflatoxin levels ranging from 1.1 to 200.4 ng/g were registered in peanuts conditioned at the higher a(W) values (0.94-0.84 a(W)). The RT-PCR assay developed appears to be a promising tool in the prediction of potential aflatoxigenic risk in stored peanuts, even in case of low-level infections, and suitable for rapid, automated and high throughput analysis.
Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.
María Alejandra
MA
Passone
Laura Cristina
LC
Rosso
Aurelio
A
Ciancio
Miriam
M
Etcheverry
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D010367:Arachis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D064430:NAD (+) and NADP (+) Dependent Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012639:Seeds; D013172:Spores, Fungal
D000348:Aflatoxins; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D064430:NAD (+) and NADP (+) Dependent Alcohol Oxidoreductases; C062609:norsolorinic acid ketoreductase