Cyclopiazonic acid and aflaJoxins production by Aspergillus flavus

Thirty-four isolates of Aspergillus 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 corno Aflatoxins and CPA were quantified by comparison with standards. The last one was confirmed by mass spectrometry. AII but one of the isolates produced CPA on liquid medium in a rangebetween3120 to 62500 ¡Jg/kg,27/34 isolates produced CPA on corn at levels ranging from 833 to 10000 ¡Jg/kgand 5/34 isolates producedaflatoxin 81 in a range between 29 to 115¡Jg/kg.According to these findings, the percentage of Aspergillus 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 ¡Jg/Kg)and in liquid medium (median: 27950 ¡Jg/Kg).These data represent the first report of the co-production of CPA and aflatoxin 81 by isolates of Aspergillus flavus obtained from corn in Argentina.