Caffeine degradation and increased ochratoxin A production by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus ochraceus isolated from green coffee beans.

The growth and ochratoxin A production of Aspergillus ochraceus strains S-235-100 and IFM 0458, which were isolated from green coffee beans and glutinous rice, respectively, were examined in yeast extract-sucrose (YES) medium containing 0.1 to 1.0% caffeine. The mycelial growth and ochratoxin A formation of strain IFM 0458 was inhibited by caffeine at concentrations over 0.1%, and ochratoxin A was not produced at caffeine levels of 0.5% and 1.0%. Contrary to this, A. ochraceus strain S-235-100 produced a larger amount of ochratoxin A in the presence of 0.5% and 1.0% caffeine when grown on YES medium, reaching a maximum after 15 to 20 days of incubation. The formation of ochratoxin A by nine additional strains of A. ochraceus, three strains of A. elegans and one strain of A. sclerotiorum isolated from green coffee beans was determined on rice and ground green coffee media. A significant degree of degradation of caffeine in the green coffee medium was demonstrated with cultures of nine A. ochraceus isolates from green coffee beans. Most of these isolates showed the potential to grow on moist green coffee beans and to produce a significant amount of ochratoxins.