The production of ochratoxin A and citrinin in barley

Abstract The production of ochratoxin A by Aspergillus ochraceus and of ochratoxin A and citrinin by Penicillium viridicatum growing on previously sterilised barley for 200 days at 5, 10 and 20°C and a water activity of 0.85 is reported. A. ochraceus did not grow at 5°C, multiplied slowly at 10°C but did not produce toxin. At 20°C the organism multiplied more quickly and produced ochratoxin after 19 days, which slowly disappeared over the next 150 days. P. viridicatum grew slowly at 5°C but did not produce any toxin. It multiplied at 10°C and produced ochratoxin A which was only detectable during the period from 100 to 150 days. At 20°C both ochratoxin A and citrinin were produced. Ochratoxin A was detected after 10 days and was still present after 240 days, whereas citrinin was produced in large quantities between 118 and 129 days and then rapidly disappeared.