Journal of Plant Pathology (2003) 85, 285-286

P. Battilani, A. Pietri, T. Bertuzzi, S. Formenti, C. Barbano and L. Languasco (2003)
Effect of fungicides on ochratoxin producing black aspergilli
Journal of Plant Pathology 85 (4), 285-286
X Meeting, Italian Society for Plant Pathology (poster)
Abstract: Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin with teratogenic, immunotoxic, and possibly neurotoxic and genotoxic properties, contaminating many agricultural commodities, grapes included. Fungi responsible for OTA presence in grapes have been identified as Aspergillus section Nigri. Studies on factors involved in fungal development and toxin synthesis in grapes are ongoing, but probably long time will be needed to establish the relationship between cropping system and/or environmental conditions and OTA production. In order to find out preventive actions readily applicable, the effect of fungicides against black aspergilli was studied. An in vitro trial was done to test the effect of 12 fungicides (plus a combination of 2 of them) on the behaviour of 11 OTA-producing fungi. The fungi tested belonged to Aspergillus section Circumdati (1 strain of A. ochraceus), responsible for OTA production in grains, and Aspergillus section Nigri (2 strains of Uniseriate, 2 strains of A. niger aggregate and 6 strains of A. carbonarius). Fungi were grown on a synthetic medium (SGM) reproducing the composition of grape berries at early veraison. To growth medium was supplemented with an amount of each fungicide comparable to the dosage used in field. The effect of fungicides was assessed by measuring fungal growth and OTA production capacity. According to the results of the tests, active ingredients could be grouped as: (i) effective in reducing both fungal growth and OTA synthesis; (ii) having no significant effect with respect to controls; (iii) stimulating OTA synthesis. These preliminary results are encouraging because effective fungicides were found.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Paola Battilani

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

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