Production of patulin by various isolates of Penicillium expansum (Link) Thom

Abstract

The production of patulin by fourteen isolates of Penicillium expansum (Link) Thorn was studied. The fungus was isolated from apples, pears and air in cold storage rooms in Poland. Different isolates of fungus produced from 268 to 2225 µg/ml patulin into the liquid medium. The productivity of the isolates depends on the source of carbon in the medium and temperature during fungus growth. Production of patulin was not correlated with the pathogenicity of the fungus isolate. The fungus produces less patulin when growing on apple tissue than on Czapek liquid medium.