Cyclopiazonic acid and aflatoxins production byAspergillus flavus isolated from Argentinian corn.

Thirty-four isolates ofAspergillus flavus obtained from the main Argentinian corn production area were tested for their ability to produce both cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) on corn and on liquid media and aflatoxins on corn.Aflatoxins and CPA were quantified by comparison with standards. The last one was confirmed by mass spectrometry.All but one of the isolates produced CPA on liquid medium in a range between 3120 to 62500 μg/kg, 27/34 isolates produced CPA on corn at levels ranging from 833 to 10000 μg/kg and 5/34 isolates produced aflatoxin B1 in a range between 29 to 115 μg/kg. According to these findings, the percentage ofAspergillus flavus isolates with CPA production ability and their levels of CPA production were higher than the observed elsewhere.It was observed significant differences (p<0,01) between CPA production on corn (median: 1761 μg/Kg) and in liquid medium (median: 27950 μg/Kg). These data represent the first report of the co-production of CPA and aflatoxin B1 by isolates ofAspergillus flavus obtained from corn in Argentina.