Food Protectants and Infestation Control Department, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author; E-mail: rama60swamy@yahoo.co.in Tel: 91 821 2513210; Fax: 91 821 2517233
Nine species of food borne fungi, Aspergillus flavus, A.ochraceous, A.niger, Penicillium vinaceum, Fusarium moniliforme, Cladosporium herbarium, Rhizopus nigricans, Alternaria alternate and Trichoderma harzianum were evaluated for their response to seven heavy metals on PDA (potato dextrose agar). Variation in growth inhibition was observed with slow and fast growing fungal species. At 5mM concentration of Zn(CH3COO)2, CoSO4 and CdSO4, the growth initiation were detrimental to all the fungi tested. However, rapidly growing fungi such as Rhizopus nigricans and Trichoderma harzianum were completely suppressed by all metals at this concentration. Our results of the present study provide an insight for the development of selective mycological media.
Heavy metals, fungi, inhibition, mycotoxins
