MECHANISM OF FORMATION OF A FLUORESCENCE IN COTTON FIBER ASSOCIATED WITH AFLATOXINS IN SEEDS AT HARVEST

A bright greenish yellow fluorescence, observed previously in cotton fibers infected in the living state in the field and in the laboratory with Aspergillus flavus, has now been produced experimentally in living tissues of several other plants that were mechanically injured and then incubated with the fungus. Evidence indicates that the fungus forms kojic acid, which is converted to the fluorescing substance under the influence of peroxidase in the plant. The relevance of these results to the use of the fluorescence to locate cotton seeds containing aflatoxins at harvest is discussed. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.