The effect of zinc and phytic acid on the incorporation of 1-14C-acetate into aflatoxin by resting mycelia of Aspergillus parasiticus.

The effect of zinc and phytic acid on [1-14C]-acetate incorporation into aflatoxins by resting mycelium was studied. When different levels of ZnSO4 were used to study its effect on the incorporation of [1-14C]-acetate into aflatoxins, it was found that the specific radioactivity incorporation into aflatoxins was maximum at the level of 10 mM-ZnSO4. At this concentration the change in the specific radioactivities of aflatoxins B1 + B2 and aflatoxins G1 + G2 were +74.61% and +29.66%, respectively. On the other hand, phytic acid had an inhibitory effect on the incorporation of [1-14C]-acetate. These observations have been correlated in order to find out why soyabean is unable to produce aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus.