Emericella astellata, a new producer of aflatoxin B1, B2 and sterigmatocystin

Aims: To report on aflatoxin B-1 and B-2 production from a species of Emericella. Methods and Results: Aflatoxins and sterigmatocystin were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection and confirmed by HPLC with mass spectrometry detection. Among 30 known species of Emericella only one species produced aflatoxin. Strains originating from the same geographical source material had different patterns of aflatoxin and sterigmatocystin production on different media, indicating that epigenetic factors may be involved in the regulation of aflatoxin production. However, two cultures from the same original genet were very similar. Conclusions: Emericella astellata can produce small amounts of sterigmatocystin and aflatoxin B-1 and B-2. Significance and Impact of the Study: Emericella has been used extensively in genetic studies and therefore the isolates producing aflatoxin can be used to elucidate the genetic, evolutionary and maybe ecological role of aflatoxins using molecular genetic methods.