Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240110
Title: Sexual reproduction in Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus

Author
item Horn, Bruce
item RAMIREZ-PRADO, JORGE - North Carolina State University
item MOORE, GEROMY - North Carolina State University
item CARBONE, IGNAZIO - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Mycological Society of America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2009
Publication Date: 6/8/2009
Citation: Horn, B.W., Ramirez-Prado, J.H., Moore, G.G., Carbone, I. 2009. Sexual reproduction in Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Mycological Society of America.

Interpretive Summary: None required.

Technical Abstract: Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus are potent producers of carcinogenic and hepatotoxic aflatoxins, polyketide-derived secondary metabolites that contaminate a wide variety of agricultural crops. Strains with opposite mating-type genes MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 within each species were crossed in an attempt to induce sexual reproduction. Lengthy incubation resulted in the development of multiple, indehiscent ascocarps containing asci and ascospores within the pseudoparenchymatous matrix of stromata, which places the teleomorphs in the genus Petromyces. Sexually compatible strains in both species belonged to different vegetative compatibility groups. The teleomorph of Petromyces flavus could not be distinguished morphologically from that of P. parasiticus. The two Petromyces species can be separated by anamorph morphology, mycotoxin profile, and molecular characters.