Penicillium in pre-harvest corn in Valencia (Spain) II. Study of the enzymatic and toxigenic capacities of the species

This paper presents data on plate assays of enzymatic activity and antibacterial effects of species of Penicillium isolated in samples of pre-harvest corn.In general, the species tested present high levels of amylolytic and lipolytic properties, while the proteolytic, urease, DNAse and cellulolytic levels are lower.The presence of ochratoxin A in the raw extracts of P. variabile, rubratoxin B in those of P. purpurogenum, and citrinin in those of P. steckii was detected by thin layer chromatography techniques against standards. Toxicity tests against brine shrimp larvae and 12 microorganisms indicated great variability among the extracts.The possibility of using the production of enzymes and mycotoxins in the classification of some groups of Penicillium is studied.