• Mycobiology
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.93-106
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• 2015

Alternaria species are common saprophytes or pathogens of a wide range of plants pre- and post-harvest. This review considers the relative importance of Alternaria species, their ecology, competitiveness, production of mycotoxins and the prevalence of the predominant mycotoxins in different food products. The available toxicity data on these toxins and the potential future impacts of Alternaria species and their toxicity in food products pre- and post-harvest are discussed. The growth of Alternaria species is influenced by interacting abiotic factors, especially water activity ($a_w$), temperature and pH. The boundary conditions which allow growth and toxin production have been identified in relation to different matrices including cereal grain, sorghum, cottonseed, tomato, and soya beans. The competitiveness of Alternaria species is related to their water stress tolerance, hydrolytic enzyme production and ability to produce mycotoxins. The relationship between A. tenuissima and other phyllosphere fungi has been examined and the relative competitiveness determined using both an Index of Dominance ($I_D$) and the Niche Overlap Index (NOI) based on carbon-utilisation patterns. The toxicology of some of the Alternaria mycotoxins have been studied; however, some data are still lacking. The isolation of Alternaria toxins in different food products including processed products is reviewed. The future implications of Alternaria colonization/infection and the role of their mycotoxins in food production chains pre- and post-harvest are discussed.

• 한국식물병리학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 1995

Alternaria alternata and A. solani were identified from 130 Alternaria isolates obtained from red pepper fruits, and three species including A. alternata, A. sesami and A. sesamicola were detected from 150 isolates from sesame seeds. Among the 4 Alternaria species, A. alternata was the predominant fungus from both plants, having incidence of 95.4% in red pepper and 56.0% in sesame. Of the total 280 isolates, cultures on autoclaved rice of 75 isolates were tested for toxicity to 21-day-old virgin female rats. Out of 50 isolates of A. alternata, 17 were lethal to rats, inducing congestion and hemorrhage of stomach and intestine and kidney enlargement, and 8 caused lack of weight gain or weight loss. The other 25 isolates of A. alternat and all the isolates of A. sesami, A. sesamicola and A. solani, showed no significant indication of toxicity. Production of mycotoxins in the rice cultures of the above 75 isolates belonging to 4 species was analyzed. Alternaria cultures were extracted with methanol and purified by using solvent partition, thin-layer chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. Of the four species tested, all produced alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), three (A. alternata, A. sesami and A. sesamicola) produced alternuene (ALT) and altertoxin-I (ATX-I), and only A. alternata produced tenuazonic acid (TA). TA was produced by all of the highly toxic (lethal to rats) isolates of A. alternata, but not by any nontoxic isolates.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 한국균학회 2018년도 춘계학술대회 및 임시총회
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• pp.13-13
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• 2018

Alternaria is a ubiquitous fungal genus, widely distributed in the environment and a range of different habitats. It includes both plant pathogenic and saprophytic species, which can affect crops in the field or cause post-harvest spoilage of plant fruits and kernels. Numerous Alternaria species cause damage to agricultural products including cereal grains, fruits and vegetables, and are responsible for severe economic losses worldwide. Most Alternaria species have the ability to produce a variety of secondary metabolites, which may play important roles in plant pathology as well as food quality and safety. Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN) and altenuene (ALT) are considered the main Alternaria compounds thought to pose a risk to human health. However, food-borne Alternaria species are able to produce many additional metabolites, whose toxicity has been tested incompletely or not tested at all. Both alternariols are mutagenic and their presence in cereal grain has been associated with high levels of human esophageal cancer in China. TeA exerts cytotoxic and phytotoxic properties, and is acutely toxic in different animal species, causing hemorrhages in several organs. The possible involvement of TA in the etiology of onyalai, a human hematological disorder occurring in Africa, has been suggested. Altertoxins (ALXs) have been found to be more potent mutagens and acutely toxic to mice than AOH and AME. Other metabolites, such as TEN, are reported to be phytotoxins, and their toxicity on animals has not been demonstrated up to now. Vegetable foods infected by Alternaria rot are obviously not suitable for consumption. Thus, whole fresh fruits are not believed to contribute significantly with Alternaria toxins to human exposure. However, processed vegetable products may introduce considerable amounts of these toxins to the human diet if decayed or moldy fruit is not removed before processing. The taxonomy of the genus is not well defined yet, which makes it difficult to establish an accurate relationship between the contaminant species and their associated mycotoxins. Great efforts have been made to organize taxa into subgeneric taxonomic levels, especially for the small-spored, food associated species, which are closely related and constitute the most relevant food pathogens from this genus. Several crops of agricultural value are susceptible to infection by different Alternaria species and can contribute to the entry of Alternaria mycotoxins in the food chain. The distribution of Alternaria species was studied in different commodities grown in Argentina. These food populations were characterized through a polyphasic approach, with special interest in their secondary metabolite profiles, to understand their full chemical potential. Alternaria species associated with tomato, bell pepper, blueberry, apples and wheat cultivated in Argentina showed a surprisingly high metabolomic and mycotoxigenic potential. The natural occurrence of Alternaria toxins in these foods was also investigated. The results here presented will provide background for discussion on regulations for Alternaria toxins in foods.

• 분석과학
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.206-212
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• 1998

수확후 Alternaria, Penicillium 및 Fusarium에 이병된 고추, 양파, 마늘을 HPLC로 주요독소들을 검정한 결과 고추에서 Alternaria 독소의 AOH(alternariol)는 소량~$400{\mu}g/g$, ALT(alternuene)는 소량~$103{\mu}g/g$, TeA(tenuagonic acid)는 $249{\sim}342{\mu}g/g$ 및 AME(alternariol monomethyl ether)는 $206{\sim}294{\mu}g/g$이 검출되었고 양파, 마늘에서 Penicillium 독소의 citrinin이 $2.8{\sim}18.4{\mu}g/g$, penicillin-G는 $0{\sim}439.0{\mu}g/g$, penicillic acid는 $0{\sim}10.2{\mu}g/g$ 및 patulin은 $0{\sim}7.0{\mu}g/g$ 검출되었다. 그리고 양파, 마늘에서 Fusarium 독소로는 fusaric acid가 $0{\sim}553.6{\mu}g/g$ 검출되었을 뿐 deoxynivalenol과 nivalenol은 검출되지 않았다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.177-181
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• 2008

희나리 고추에서 분리한 곰팡이를 현미에 배양하여 실험동물(rat)에 투여하였을 때 Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Diaporthopsis, Botryosphereia, Aspergillus, Fusarium의 경우 독성을 나타내지 않았으나 Alternaria alternata로 동정된 곰팡이는 독성을 나타내었다. A. alternata를 배양한 현미를 투여한 실험동물은 사료 섭취량이 상대적으로 낮았으며, 체중 감소를 보였고 2주안에 치사하였으며, 위, 소장, 간의 확대가 관찰되었다. Alternaria속 곰팡이는 17종이 분리되었으며 이들 중 8종은 고추즙과 현미에 배양하였을 때 모두 상당량의 tenuazonic acid를 생산하였고, 현미 배지에서만 alternariol과 alternariol monomethyl ether 독소가 추가로 소량 검출되었다. 건조 과정에서 곰팡이가 번식된 고추는 유해한 대사물의 존재 가능성이 있으므로 식품 안전을 위해 곰팡이 번식을 최대한 억제할 필요가 있다.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 한국균학회 2016년도 춘계학술대회 및 임시총회
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• pp.33-33
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• 2016

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. They can be present in where agricultural-based commodities are contaminated with toxigenic fungi. These mycotoxins cause various toxicoses in human and livestock when consumed. Small grains including corn, barley, rice or wheat are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins due to infection mainly by toxigenic Fusarium species and/or under environment favorable to fungal growth. One of the most well-known Fusarium toxin groups in cereals is trichothecenes consisting of many toxic compounds. Deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 toxin, and various derivatives belong to this group. Zearalenone and fumonisin (FB) are also frequently produced by many species of the same genus. In order to monitor Korean cereals for contamination with Fusarium and other mycotoxigenic fungal species as well, barley, corn, maize, rice grains, and soybean were collected from fields at harvest or during storage for several years. The fungal colonies outgrown from the grain samples were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Trichothecene chemotypes of Fusarium species or presence of FB biosynthetic gene were determined using respective diagnostic PCR to predict possible toxin production. Heavy grain contamination with fungi was detected in barley, rice and wheat. Predominant fungal genus of barley and wheat was Alternaria (up to 90%) while that of rice was Fusarium (~40%). Epicoccum also appeared frequently in barley, rice and wheat. While frequency of Fusarium species in barley and wheat was less than 20%, the genus mainly consisted of Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) which known to be head blight pathogen and mycotoxin producer. Fusarium composition of rice was more diverse as FGSC, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), and Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) appeared all at considerable frequencies. Prevalent fungal species of corn was FFSC (~50%), followed by FGSC (<30%). Most of FFSC isolates of corn tested appeared to be FB producer. In corn, Fusarium graminearum and DON chemotype dominate within FGSC, which was different from other cereals. Soybeans were contaminated with fungi less than other crops and Cercospora, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Fusarium etc. were detected at low frequencies (up to 14%). Other toxigenic species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium were irregularly detected at very low frequencies. Multi-year survey of small grains revealed dominant fungal species of Korea (barley, rice and wheat) is Fusarium asiaticum having NIV chemotype.

• 식물병연구
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.289-294
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• 2014

국내 미곡종합처리장(RPC)에서 벼와 이의 가공산물인 왕겨, 현미, 청치미, 쇄미, 색채미, 백미시료를 2010-2013년 동안 수집하고 미곡에 발생하는 곰팡이와 곰팡이독소 오염을 조사하였다. 전체 곰팡이와 Fusarium 속 곰팡이의 발생은 모든 시료 중 벼에서 가장 높았고, 왕겨가 다음이었으며 도정과정을 따라 감소하였다. 현미, 청치미, 색채미의 발생빈도는 서로 유사하였으며 백미가 가장 낮았다. Fusarium 속 곰팡이 중에서 붉은곰팡이 종복합체의 비율은 2012년에 87%로 가장 높았고, 2011년과 2013년에는 30%대에 머물렀다. Aspergillus 속과 Penicillium 속의 경우 발생빈도는 낮았으나 특정 RPC의 미곡시료에 높은 빈도로 발생하는 유형을 보였고 Alternaria, Nigrospora, Epicoccum 속 곰팡이의 발생유형은 전체 곰팡이의 것과 유사하였다. 미곡 시료의 곰팡이독소 오염여부를 조사하기 위해 2010-2012년 시료를 대상으로 데옥시니발레놀, 니발레놀, 제랄레논과 기타 트라이코쎄신을 분석한 결과, 가공산물 중 색채미의 오염빈도, 검출량, 독소 중복오염비율이 가장 높았고 다음은 청치미였다.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.77-88
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• 2010

In order to ensure good animal health and performance, it is essential to produce forages with high feeding value and good hygienic quality. However, huge amounts of forages consumed by ruminants are contaminated with mold prior to harvest or during storage as hay, straw or silage. These mold can grow in forages only when nutrients are available, correct temperature exist, oxygen is present, and unbound water is available. Fungal 'species can be divided into two groups: field fungi and storage fungi. Field fungi invade the forages while the crop is still in the field, require high moisture conditions, and are such as species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Clodosporium, Diplodia, Gibberrella and Helminthosporium. Storage fungi invade forages during storage and need less moisture than field fungi. These such as species of Aspergillus and Penicillium usually do not occur any problem before harvest. Mold growth can spoil the nutritional aspects of the forages and also results in secondary metabolites that are highly toxic to animal, humans and plants. Moldy feeds are less palatable and may reduce dry matter intake. This, in turn, leads to a reduction of nutrition intake, reducing weight gains or milk production. Performance losses of 5 to 10 percent are typical with moldy feeds. Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by fungi (molds) growing on crops in the field or storages. While greater than 400 mycotoxins have been chemically identified, the biological or veterinary medical impact of only several mycotoxins is known. Mycotoxins have attracted considerable attention as potential causes for poor performance and health disorders in domestic livestock. They can be carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, hematotoxic, immunosuppressive, estrogenic, or mutagenic. So, feeding moldy forages has adverse effects on animal health and milk consumers. Also, this author reported that rice straw hay was contaminated mycotoxigenic fungi such as Penicillium roqueforti and Fusarium culmorum in Korea. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop an improved post harvest storage method to reduce nutrient loss and mycotoxin contamination of forages, which will have a positive impact on human health.

• Mycobiology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.183-190
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• 2003

Five cereal grains(wheat, barley, rice, maize and sorghum) were collected from three Egyptian provinces known to be grain producers(Daqahlia, Gharbia and Kafer el-Sheikh). Two species of Alternaria(A. raphani and A. tenusinae); two species of Aspergillus(A. flavus and A. niger); one species of Cunninghamella(C. elegans); one Dreschslera species(D. myakt); three Fusarium species(F. graminearum, F. moniliform and F. solani); one Rhizopus species(R. stolonifer) and two species of Penicillium(P. digitatum and P. notatum) were isolated from the grains. The densities of these fungi and their frequencies of occurrence have been investigated. All the fungal isolates were tested for the production of toxic metabolites in culture media and the percentages of toxigenic isolates were calculated. The biological assay of the toxigenic fungal isolates showed significant variations in toxigenic activity. Thin layer chromatography revealed that the most active isolate produces moniliformin in culture media. The effect of culture conditions on the production of moniliformin was studied.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.359-366
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• 1993

Molds are eucaryotic, multicellular, multinucleate, filamentous organisms that reproduce by forming asexual and sexual spores. The spores are readily spread through the air and because they are very light-weight and tend to behave like dust particles, they are easily disseminated on air currents. Molds therefore are ubiquitous organisms that are found everywhere, throughout the environment. The natural habitat of most molds is the soil where they grow on and break down decaying vegetable matter. Thus, where there is decaying organic matter in an area, there are often high numbers of mold spores in the atmosphere of the environment. Molds are common contaminants of plant materials, including grains and seeds, and therefore readily contaminate human foods and animal feeds. Molds can tolerate relatively harsh environments and adapt to more severe stresses than most microorganisms. They require less available moisture for growth than bacteria and yeasts and can grow on substrates containing concentrations of sugar or salt that bacteria can not tolerate. Most molds are highly aerobic, requiring oxygen for growth. Molds grow over a wide temperature range, but few can grow at extremely high temperatures. Molds have simple nutritional requirements, requiring primarily a source of carbon and simple organic nitrogen. Because of this, molds can grow on many foods and feed materials and cause spoilage and deterioration. Some molds ran produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins, which are toxic to humans and animals. Mold growth in foods can be controlled by manipulating factors such as atmosphere, moisture content, water activity, relative humidity and temperature. The presence of other microorganisms tends to restrict mold growth, especially if conditions are favorable for growth of bacteria or yeasts. Certain chemicals in the substrate may also inhibit mold growth. These may be naturally occurring or added for the purpose of preservation. Only a relatively few of the approximately 100,000 different species of fungi are involved in the deterioration of food and agricultural commodities and production of mycotoxins. Deteriorative and toxic mold species are found primarily in the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Trichothecium, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, Mucor and Cladosporium. While many molds can be observed as surface growth on foods, they also often occur as internal contaminants of nuts, seeds and grains. Mold deterioration of foods and agricultural commodities is a serious problem world-wide. However, molds also pose hazards to human and animal health in the form of mycotoxins, as infectious agents and as respiratory irritants and allergens. Thus, molds are involved in a number of human and animal diseases with serious implication for health.