title: Molecular diagnosis of ochratoxinogenicAspergillus species.
abstract: Toxigenic and non-toxigenic black aspergilli belonging to theAspergillus niger aggregate and toA. carbonarius were compared to each other and to strains of other species by DNA fingerprinting. AFLPs showed a clear separation ofA. niger andA. carbonarius. However, no clear correlation between the genetic similarity of the strains and the ability to produce ochratoxin A (OTA) was detected. Based on AFLP, marker sequences were chosen for the construction of SCAR-PCR primers for the detection ofA. carbonarius. A similar approach was used forA. ochraceus, another fungus of concern regarding ochratoxin A contamination of coffee. Cluster analysis ofA. ochraceus isolates mainly from Brazilian coffee showed a very close genetic similarity. Three species specific primer pairs were developed and one of these was used for the PCR and realtime PCR (RT-PCR) based detection of the mould in green coffee.A. ochraceus was specifically and rapidly detected and quantified in green coffee. A positive correlation between the amount of DNA and OTA content was established.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Technische Mikrobiologie, TU München, Weihenstephaner Steig 16, D-85354, Freising.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niessen
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Vogel