Unveiling the effect of interacting forecasted abiotic factors on growth and aflatoxin B1 production kinetics by Aspergillus flavus

The aim was to decipher the temporal impact of key interacting climate change (CC) abiotic factors temperature (30 vs 37 °C), water activity (aw; 0.985 0.930) and CO2 exposure (400 1000 ppm) on (a) growth Aspergillus flavus effects (b) gene expression a structural (aflD) regulatory (aflR) involved in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) biosynthesis (c) AFB1 production yeast extract sucrose medium over period 10 days. A. grew produced very early with toxin detected after only 48 h. Both were significantly impacted by factors. relative aflD influenced temperature; aflR mainly modulated time. However, no clear relationship observed for both genes experimental time frame. optimum 30 °C. Maximum occurred between days 4–8. Exposure higher conditions simulating forecasted CC resulted amount elevated (37 °C) being than showing potential increased risk human/animal health due accumulation this toxin.