Background: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. The presence of OTA in raisins is mainly related to black Aspergillus spp. contamination. This toxin poses risks to human and animal health due to its high toxicity and carcinogenicity. New strategies to avoid the risk associated with OTA are therefore necessary.
Results: A comparison was made between the effects of the antifungal protein PgAFP and potassium sorbate (E-202) on the growth of Aspergillus carbonarius, biosynthetic- and stress-related gene expression and its OTA production at two water activity (aw ) levels, 0.95 and 0.93 aw . The results showed that PgAFP successfully controlled OTA production, whereas E-202, despite being able to reduce Aspergillus carbonarius growth, caused a significant increase in OTA production by the fungus.
Conclusion: PgAFP protein, a biological compound with an antifungal activity, is safer to use than E-202 and may be proposed as a food preservative and a useful strategy to control ochratoxigenic A. carbonarius in raisins. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Keywords: Aspergillus carbonarius; E-202; PgAFP; ochratoxin A; raisins.
© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.