Letters in Applied Microbiology (2016) 63, 25-29
A. Akbar, A. Medina and N. Magan (2016)
Efficacy of different caffeine concentrations on growth and ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus species
Letters in Applied Microbiology 63 (1), 25-29
Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different caffeine concentrations (0–4%) on (i) lag phase prior to growth, (ii) growth rates and (iii) ochratoxin A (OTA) production by strains from the Aspergillus section Circumdati and Aspergillus section Nigri groups, isolated from coffee, when grown on a conducive medium at 0·98 water activity and 30°C. The lag phases prior to growth increased with caffeine concentration. A strain of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarius were the most sensitive to caffeine with growth being inhibited by <1% caffeine. For strains of Aspergillus westerdijkiae, Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus steynii, although growth was inhibited significantly, some growth (10–15% of controls) occurred in 4% caffeine. OTA production was significantly inhibited by only 0·5% caffeine for strains of A. westerdijkiae, A. niger and A. carbonarius. For A. steynii at least 1·5% caffeine was required to inhibit OTA production. In contrast, for the strain of A. ochraceus there was a stimulation of OTA at 3% with a reduction at 4% caffeine. These results are discussed in the context of the different concentrations of caffeine found in Arabica and Robusta coffee and the development of minimization strategies.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Naresh Magan
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Aspergillus niger | ||||
Aspergillus ochraceus | ||||
Aspergillus carbonarius | ||||
Aspergillus westerdijkiae |