Some factors influencing patulin production by Penicillium expansum in pome fruits.
BACKGROUND
The objective of our study was to examine the effects of Penicillium expansum on patulin production in relation to isolates, species and cultivar type, incidence and severity of decay. In addition, patulin production at different incubation times and its diffusion were also investigated. These factors were evaluated in pome fruits inoculated with P. expansum and kept at 20 °C for short periods of time.


RESULTS
The ability of five P. expansum isolates to grow and produce patulin in inoculated Golden Delicious apples varied among the strains from below the limit of quantification to 662 µg kg(-1). Variety and species of pome fruits influenced patulin production. P. expansum isolate PE97.IT produced a higher patulin content in apples than in pears. The highest patulin production was 386 µg kg(-1) in Golden Delicious. No blue mould symptom appeared in pears inoculated with P. expansum and no patulin was detected after 3 days at 20 °C. However, patulin increased with incubation time after 6 and 8 days. No patulin was detected in healthy pear tissue but it was high in the decayed area.


CONCLUSIONS
Since patulin production is associated primarily with infected rotten tissue, patulin control is possible by using healthy fruits, sorting damaged and rotten fruits before processing.
Menniti
Anna M
AM
CRIOF-DIPROVAL, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy. annamaria.menniti@unibo.it
Neri
Fiorella
F
Gregori
Roberto
R
Maccaferri
Massimo
M
D004058:Diffusion; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D010365:Patulin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D031989:Pyrus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D010365:Patulin