Growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus in fig-based medium: Effect of minerals and chelating agents

Abstract

In this study, minerals required for the growth and aflatoxin production of A. flavus were determined. Then, the effectiveness of some chelating agents such as citric acid, phytic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in preventing mold growth and toxin production was investigated in a fig-based medium and in two synthetic media, called Czapek-dox agar (CZA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA). A. flavus did not grow in CZA without sodium nitrate during 6-day incubation at 30 °C. The absence of the other components (magnesium sulfate, iron sulfate, potassium chloride and potassium phosphate) did not significantly (p>0.05) affect the growth of the mold. However, the mold produced significantly (p