Citrinin-producing capacity of Penicillium expansum strains from apple packinghouses of Lerida (Spain).

A study of the citrinin producing capacity in 122 Penicillium expansum strains isolated from apples and various locations of apple packaging premises Lleida (Spain) was conducted. Among the strains examined, 46% produced citrinin in a laboratory substrate and 73.2% of these strains were isolated from decayed apples. All citrinin producing strains produced metabolites which inhibited Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis. The majority of the strains producing citrinin in solid substrate also produced citrinin in apples and apple juices.