Rapid characterization of potential ochratoxin-producing fungi isolated from grapes and study of natamycin efficacy for its control

Fungal flora on ripe grape and fungi characterization are very critical for assessing the risk of OTA presence in wine, a mycotoxin classified as possible carcinogen to humans. In the present work, the PCR-RFLP technique has been applied to the ITS1- 5.SS-ITS2 region of the rDNA to carry out the characterization of potential OTA producing species of Aspergillus section Nigri from different grape varieties grown in Spain. The toxin production levels of the different isolates have also been analysed and the ability of natamycin, a fungicide, to control fungal development and OTA production in vitro has been studied, as well as the interaction with environmental factors {water activity, temper…