Growth modeling kinetics of Alternaria alternata in dried jujube at different temperatures

Abstract

Alternaria alternata is a fungus that infects jujube, causes black spot disease, and produces Alternaria mycotoxins, such as alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, and tenuazonic acid. This study aimed to apply models to predict growth and mycotoxin production by A. alternata isolated from jujube as a function of temperature and water activity. The practicability of the model was verified on jujube agar medium. The growth conditions were water activity of 0.99 or 0.90 a w and temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 °C. The growth rate of A. alternata was highest at 0.99 a w and 25 °C, and the lag time was the shortest at 0.90 a w and 30 °C. The dry weight growth rate of mycelia increased gradually with the increase of temperature on PDA and jujube agar medium. Mycotoxin production by A. alternata was not correlated with growth, but no significant delay was detected in some cases. In general, the growth model predicted the growth of A. alternata.

Interacting Abiotic Factors Affect Growth and Mycotoxin Production Profiles of Alternaria Section Alternaria Strains on Chickpea-Based Media

“…There are several studies in the literature dealing with the effect of a W and temperature on mycotoxin production by A. alternata strains on natural substrates or on media-based natural substrates [26][27][28][29]41,43], but only a few have been performed with A. arborescens [40,44]. It is important to remark that none of them have been performed on chickpea.…”