Journal of Plant Pathology (2002) 84, p. 175 (Battilani et al.)

P. Battilani, P. Giorni, L. Languasco, A. Pietri and T. Bertuzzi (2002)
Fungal flora and ochratoxin A production in Italian grapes in 2001
Journal of Plant Pathology 84 (3), 175-175
IX Meeting, Italian Society for Plant Pathology
Abstract: Ochratoxin A (OTA) occurrence in wine was firstly reported in 1996. During the following years several surveys confirmed its presence showing the potential risk of high intake for usual consumers of red wine or raisins. The EC, in Vth FP (QoL, KA 1, Food, Nutrition and Health), supported a project on 'Risk assessment and integrated ochratoxin A (OTA) management in grape and wine'. Twelve Partners are involved and an Italian Partner coordinates the group. The activity managed in Italy, according to a common protocol, consisted of sampling 16 vineyards, distributed on the territory, at 4 growth stages, between setting and ripening. Bunches sampled were used for fungal isolation and OTA quantification. Data on cropping system, grape phenology and meteorology were collected. From 2001 researches resulted that most of OTA-producing fungi isolated from grape were Aspergilla (88%), while Penicillia played a minor role. Among Aspergilla, section Nigri was dominant, with 86% of the isolates; 45% of these were uniseriates and 55% biseriates. A. carbonarius represented 50% of biseriates, with a high percentage of OTA-producing strains (78%), capable to synthesise relevant amounts of toxin. OTA-producing fungi were present in all the vineyards, while the toxin was detected only in traces on bunches. In previous years, some samples coming from these vineyards contained up to 13 ppb of OTA. The low levels of OTA detected in 2001 could be attributed to ecological conditions unsuitable for OTA production.
Database assignments for author(s): Paola Battilani

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aspergillus carbonarius	Grapevine (Vitis)	Italy