Journal of Fungi Article Host Factors Modulating Ochratoxin A Biosynthesis during Fruit Colonization by Aspergillus carbonarius Uriel Maor 1,2, Omer Barda 1, Sudharsan Sadhasivam 1 , Yang Bi 3, Varda Zakin 1, Dov B. Prusky 1,3 and Edward Sionov 1,* 1 Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Rishon LeZion 7528809, Israel;
[email protected] (U.M.);
[email protected] (O.B.);
[email protected] (S.S.);
[email protected] (V.Z.);
[email protected] (D.B.P.) 2 Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel 3 College of Food Science and Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +972-3-968-3693 Abstract: Aspergillus carbonarius is a strong and consistent ochratoxin A (OTA) producer and consid- ered to be the main source of this toxic metabolite in grapes and grape products such as wine, grape juice and dried vine fruit. OTA is produced under certain growth conditions and its accumulation is affected by several environmental factors, such as growth phase, substrate, temperature, water activity and pH. In this study, we examined the impact of fruit host factors on regulation and ac- cumulation of OTA in colonized grape berries, and assessed in vitro the impact of those factors on the transcriptional levels of the key genes and global regulators contributing to fungal colonization and mycotoxin synthesis.