Influence of fungicides on mycotoxin production by Alternaria mali

Extracts of fungicide induced variants ofAlternaria mali were tested with mice and bacteria. Both the living fungi and their crude chloroform extracts inhibited growth ofStaphylococcus aureaus, Sarcina lutea, Bacillus mycoides, andB. subtilis. B. megaterium was not sensitive to most of the extracts and was only slightly so to the remainder. The LD₅₀ in mice when injected intraperitoneally ranged from 300 mg/kg to 2400 mg/kg; however, in some cases there were no lethal effects. The toxicity of the wild type was greatly reduced when grown in the presence of fungicide decomposition products. Altenuene, alternariol, and alternariol monomethyl ether were not found in any of the extracts.