[Putative mycotoxin-producing fungi isolated from alpataco (Prosopis flexuosa) fruits]. / Hongos toxicogénicos contaminantes de frutos de alpataco.

Fungi contaminant of alpataco (Prosopis flexuosa) fruits from La Pampa province (Argentina) were identified. Alternaria alternata and Sphaeropsis sapinea were the dominant species. Phoma sp., Nigrospora sp., Preussia minima, Cladosporium sp., Pithomyces chartarum, Epicoccum nigrum, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus speluneus were also isolated but with less frequency. Twelve strains of Alternaria alternata, the toxigenic species with higher incidence, were screened for alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) production. Since one isolate was able to produce AME, six isolates produced AOH and AME and two isolates produced AOH, AME and TA, these results indicate a potential risk of contamination with Alternaria toxins in this substrate.

Hongos toxicogénicos contaminantes de frutos de alpataco / Putative mycotoxin-producing fungi isolated from “alpataco” (Prosopis flexuosa) fruits

Se estudió la presencia de hongos potencialmente toxicogénicos en frutos dealpataco (Prosopis flexuosa D.C. var. depressa Roig) recolectados en laprovincia de La Pampa, Argentina. Las especies predominantes fueronAlternaria alternata y Sphaeropsis sapinea. En menor proporción se aislaronPhoma sp., Nigrospora sp., Preussia minima, Cladosporium sp., Pithomyceschartarum, Epicoccum nigrum, Aspergillus niger y Aspergillus speluneus.La capacidad para producir micotoxinas se determinó en 12 cepas deAlternaria alternata, única especie potencialmente toxicogénica aislada conrelativa frecuencia. Dos cepas produjeron ácido tenuazónico (AT), alternariol(AOH) y alternariol-metil-éter (AME), seis produjeron AOH y AME, una produjosolamente AME y las tres restantes resultaron no toxicogénicas. Losresultados de este estudio preliminar indican un riesgo potencial decontaminación con toxinas de Alternaria en la harina de alpataco, de crecienteuso en la alimentación humana y animal en ciertas áreas geográficas(AU)

Fungi contaminant of “alpataco” (Prosopis flexuosa) fruits from “La Pampaprovince” (Argentina) were identified. Alternaria alternata and Sphaeropsissapinea were the dominant species. Phoma sp., Nigrospora sp., Preussiaminima, Cladosporium sp., Pithomyces chartarum, Epicoccum nigrum,Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus speluneus were also isolated but with lessfrequency. Twelve strains of Alternaria alternata, the toxigenic species withhigher incidence, were screened for alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethylether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) production. Since one isolate was ableto produce AME, six isolates produced AOH and AME and two isolatesproduced AOH, AME and TA, these results indicate a potential risk ofcontamination with Alternaria toxins in this substrate(AU)