Black Aspergilli Species Responsible for Infecting Corn Identified
October 1, 2010| |
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that several species of black aspergilli (Aspergillus niger) can infect corn and peanuts as endophytes. Endophytes are fungi that colonize healthy plant tissues, sometimes without showing symptoms of infection. Using molecular techniques, Charles Bacon, scientist of USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), together with his colleagues have discovered more than 18 species of black aspergilli, several of which could produce toxic chemicals called mycotoxins.
The team also discovered that several A. aspergilli species which were perceived to be unable to release mycotoxins, can produce ochratoxins, carcinogenic mycotoxins that can affect humans, livestock, and poultry.
Read the complete news article at http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261. Subscribers of Toxins Journal can read the research article at http://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins/.
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