Search

The production of patulin and griseofulvin by 49 different isolates of Penicillium griseofulvum Dierckx was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Eleven isolates were obtained from pistachio nuts, 37 were obtained from wheat seeds, and 1 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Activities of 19 enzymes were also assayed by the API ZYM system. From these results it may be deduced that there are two different groups among the strains tested which cannot be distinguished by morphological and cultural characteristics. One group of isolates did not produce detectable amounts of patulin and griseofulvin when grown in sucrose-yeast extract and Wickerham media, while enzymatic activities were quantitatively distinct from the other group, which produced patulin and griseofulvin in variable proportions. Leucine arylamidase, phosphoamidase, and beta-D-glucosidase are the main enzymes with differing activities between the two groups. Differences in physiological characteristics among isolates of a single species reveal shortcomings in the classification of the penicillia based only on morphological criteria. Thus, determination of the ability to yield mycotoxins and antibiotics as well as determination of enzymatic activities appear to be very valuable tools in the taxonomy of these fungi and for food toxicology.

The acaricide activity of crude extracts of Penicillium funiculosum against Panonychus ulmi is investigated. Its activity is at least of the same order as commercial acaricide. It has an effect principally on larval and adult stages, causing a high mortality rate and a complete loss of fertility. Both ingestion and contact toxicity are found. Zusammenfassung Zur Wirkung eines Penicillium funiculosum-Stammes auf Panonychus ulmi Koch (Acar., Tetranychidae) Es wurde die akarizide Wirkung eine Rohextrakts von Penicillium funiculosum Thom auf P. ulmi untersucht. Die Wirksamkeit dieses Extraktes ist vergleichbar mit jener von kommerziellen Akariziden. Das Penicillium-Extrakt ist vor allem gegenuber Larven und Adulten wirksam, wobei eine hohe Mortalitatsrate und ein vollstandiger Fertilitatsverlust erreicht wird. Es konnte sowohl die Wirkung als Kontakt- sowie auch als Frasakarizid nachgewiesen werden.

The insecticidal, bactericidal, fungicidal and acaricidal properties of crude extract of Penicillium funiculosum Thom were studied. The insecticidal activity of the extracts can be summed up in the following results: it acts as a juvenile hormone mimetic against Blattella germanica, as an ovicidal agent against Leptinotarsa decemlineata, as an aphicidal agent against Myzus persicae and as an adulticide against Oncopeltus fasciatus. Acaricidal activity against Panonychus citri is basically of an egg-larvicidal nature, and can be compared with that of commercial acaricides. The extracts act against the mite Phytocoptella avellanae as an adulticide. No bactericidal or fungicidal activity was registered. Zusammenfassung Uber die Wirksamkeit eines Penicillium funiculosum-Stammes gegenuber Insekten und Milben In der vorliegenden Untersuchung werden die insektiziden, bakteriziden, fungiziden und akariziden Eigenschaften eines Rohextraktes von Penicillium funiculosum Thom getestet. Die insektizide Wirksamkeit der Extrakte kann folgendermasen zusammengefast werden: Gegen Blattella germanica wirken sie wie Juvenilhormone, gegen Leptinotarsa decemlineata haben sie eine ovizide Wirkung, gegen Myzus persicae eine aphizide und gegen Oncopeltus fasciatus eine adultizide Wirkung. Die akarizide Wirksamkeit gegen Panonychus citri basiert auf einer ovizid-larviziden Wirkung und kann mit der Wirksamkeit kommerzieller Akarizide verglichen werden. Die Extrakte wirken todlich auf Adulte der Milbe Phytocoptella avellanae. Eine bakterielle oder fungizide Wirkung der Extrakte konnte nicht festgestellt werden.

In the present study we attempt to determine the principal factors which influence the contamination by Penicillium of 116 samples of pre-harvest corn from five crop areas in Valencia (Spain).