Growth and mycotoxin production by Aspergillus fumigatus strains isolated from a saltern

Abstract

Different microfungi were isolated from salty soil and hypersaline water samples, taken from the extreme environment of operating marine solar salterns. The filamentous fungus most frequently and repeatedly isolated was identified as the pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Because of its great morphological variability and mycotoxin production ability, 50 A. fumigatus isolates were selected for additional characterisation by their secondary metabolites profile, which was determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). At standard conditions 45% of the isolated strains produced different mycotoxins and in ecological conditions prevailing in the saltern (high salinity and temperature) production of important mycotoxins (verruculogen, fumitremorgins B and C, fumigaclavine A) was lowered or inhibited.