title: Molecular characterization of patulin producing and non-producing Penicillium species in apples from Morocco.
abstract: The isolation of patulin-producing Penicillia in apples collected in different markets in four localities in Morocco is reported. Fungi were identified by β-tubulin sequencing and further characterized using a specific PCR-based method targeting the isoepoxydon dehydrogenase (IDH) gene to discriminate between patulin-producing and non-producing strains. Production of patulin was also evaluated using standard cultural and biochemical methods. Results showed that 79.5% of contaminant fungi belonged to the genus Penicillium and that Penicillium expansum was the most isolated species (83.9%) followed by Penicillium chrysogenum (~9.7%) and Penicillium crustosum (~6.4%). Molecular analysis revealed that 64.5% of the Penicillium species produced the expected IDH-amplicon denoting patulin production in these strains. However, patulin production was not chemically confirmed in all P. expansum strains. The isolation of IDH(-)/patulin(+) strains poses the hypothesis that gentisylaldehyde is not a direct patulin precursor, supporting previous observations that highlighted the importance of the gentisyl alcohol in the production of this mycotoxin. Total agreement between IDH-gene detection and cultural/chemical methods employed was observed in 58% of P. expansum strains and for 100% of the other species isolated. Overall the data reported here showed a substantial genetic variability within P. expansum population from Morocco.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology - Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, B.P 11201 Zitoune Meknés, Morocco; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rharmitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology - Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, B.P 11201 Zitoune Meknés, Morocco.
authors.forename: Majida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hafidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology - Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of Science, B.P 11201 Zitoune Meknés, Morocco.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajjaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scordino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Letterio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giuffrè
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Criseo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences - University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: oromeo@unime.it.
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Romeo
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D027845:Malus / Q000382:microbiology*; D009018:Morocco; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D010365:Patulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014404:Tubulin; D010365:Patulin; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C024775:isoepoxydon dehydrogenase
keywords: IDH gene; Mycotoxins; P. expansum; Patulin; Penicillium; Toxigenic fungi