Growth and Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999 in the Presence of Potassium Benzoate or Potassium Sorbate and at Different Initial pH Values

Experiments were done to determine how different concentrations of potassium benzoate or potassium sorbate in a glucose-yeast extract-salts medium with an initial pH value of 3.5, 4.5 or 5.5 affected growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999. The pH of the medium, weight of mycelium and amount of aflatoxin produced were determined after 3 and 7 d of incubation. Aflatoxin was determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Maximum concentrations of potassium sorbate and potassium benzoate that permitted growth were 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively, in a medium with an initial pH of 5.5. When the initial pH was 4.5, the maximum concentrations of potassium sorbate and potassium benzoate that permitted growth were 0.05% and 0.10%, respectively, but there was an extended lag phase. Increasing concentrations of potassium benzoate or potassium sorbate decreased amounts of aflatoxin B1 and G1 produced after 3 d in a medium with initial pH values of 5.5 or 4.5. Cultures growing in the medium containing 0.1, 0.15 or 0.20% potassium benzoate or potassium sorbate and with an initial pH of 5.5 were somewhat inhibited at 3 d of incubation, which was characterized by a slow decrease in pH, low mycelium dry weight and small amounts of accumulated aflatoxins. After 7 d these cultures overcame the initial inhibition and produced substantial amounts of aflatoxins and mycelium. This was also true for cultures growing in a medium with an initial pH of 4.5 and containing potassium benzoate or potassium sorbate. By decreasing the initial pH of the medium from 5.5 to 4.5, amounts of potassium benzoate or potassium sorbate required to achieve inhibition decreased by a factor of 10.