Aspergillus Parasiticus Growth and Aflatoxin Production on Dehydrated Taro |
| |
| Authors: | W Y J TSAI J H MOY W K NIP H A FRANK |
| |
| Affiliation: | Authors Moy, Nip, and Frank are with the Dept. of Food Science &Human Nutrition, Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822. Author Tsai, formerly with the Univ. of Hawaii, is now affiliated with the Dept. of Food Science &Technology, Univ. of Nebraska Lincoln NE. |
| |
| Abstract: | A study was made of Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production on four taro media. The critical equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) for natural mold growth on unsterilized dehydrated taro was 88% at 20°C. However, nontoxigenic A. parasiticus NRRL 1957 did not grow at this ERH on dehydrated raw taro incubated at 20°, 30°, or 40°C. Instead, the growth of A. parasiticus NRRL 1957 on dehydrated taro was optimum at 30°C and an ERH of 96%. Aflatoxin production by toxigenic A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 was investigated on four taro media under optimal growth conditions. Only moderate quantities of aflatoxins were produced by A. parasiticus NRRL 2999 on uncooked dehydrated taro, but cooking or supplementation with peptone stimualted mycelial growth and aflatoxin production slightly. Nevertheless, growth and aflatoxin production on cooked or peptone-supplemented taro media was low. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
