Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic fungi contaminating foods and feeds in pre-, postharvestand processing, and represent a great concern worldwide, both for the economic implications and for thehealth of the consumers. Many environmental conditions are involved in the regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis.Among these, light represents one of the most important signals for fungi, influencing several physiologicalresponses such as pigmentation, sexual development and asexual conidiation, primary and secondary metabolism,including mycotoxin biosynthesis. In this review we summarise some recent findings on the effect of specific lightwavelength and intensity on mycotoxin biosynthesis in the main toxigenic fungal genera. We describe the molecularmechanism underlying light perception and its involvement in the regulation of secondary metabolism, focusing onVeA, global regulator in Aspergillus nidulans, and the White-Collar proteins, key components of light response inNeurospora crassa. Light of specific wavelength and intensity exerts different effects both on growth and on toxinproduction depending on the fungal genus. In Penicillium spp. red (627 nm) and blue wavelengths (455-470 nm)reduce ochratoxin A (OTA) biosynthesis by modulating the level of expression of the ochratoxin polyketide synthase.Furthermore a mutual regulation between citrinin and OTA production is reported in Penicillium toxigenic species.In Aspergillus spp. the effect of light treatment is strongly dependent on the species and culture conditions. Royalblue wavelength (455 nm) of high intensity (1,700 Lux) is capable of completely inhibit fungal growth and OTAproduction in Aspergillus stenyii and Penicillum verrucosum. In Fusarium spp. the effect of light exposure is lesseffective; mycotoxin-producing species, such as Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum, grow betterunder light conditions, and fumonisin production increased. This review provides a comprehensive picture onlight regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis and discusses possible new applications of this resource in food safety.

Autore Pugliese

• Mule' Giuseppina , Logrieco Antonio Francesco , Fanelli Francesca

Tutti gli autori

• Fanelli F.; Geisen R.; Schidt-Heydt M.; Logrieco A.F.; Mulè G.

Titolo volume/Rivista

World mycotoxin journal

Anno di pubblicazione

2015

ISSN

1875-0710

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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