Summary:
This study reports of the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a plant growth
regulator as well as the plants response to environmental stress and to
wounding by insect and pathogen attack, added at different concentrations, on
the growth of A.parasiticus and its highly toxic and potent carcinogenic fungal
metabolite, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), in two rather different media, namely a
nutrient medium of well defined composition (Yeast Extract Sucrose YES) as well
as an edible plant of Greek origin, caper. Following the results of this study,
it is evident that both A.parasiticus fungal growth as well as AFB1
biosynthesis depend on the concentration of MeJA. Moreover, MeJA at low
concentrations (10-6Μ) induced a stimulation of the AFB1 production. The fact
that high concentrations of the plant regulator significantly inhibited the
mycotoxin output regardless of the used medium or substrate is of great
importance and offers an interesting perspective in the field of the prevention
of aflatoxin contamination of stored crops and foodstuffs.
Keywords:
Aflatoxin B1, Methyl jasmonate, Caper, Aspergillus parasiticus, HPLC
