Effect of Neem Leaf Extract and Neem Oil on Penicillium Growth, Sporulation, Morphology and Ochratoxin A Production.docVIP

Toxins 2009, 1, 3-13; doi:10.3390/toxins1010003 OPEN ACCESS toxins ISSN 2072-6651 /journal/toxins Article Effect of Neem Leaf Extract and Neem Oil on Penicillium Growth, Sporulation, Morphology and Ochratoxin A Production Simone A. G. Mossini, Carla C. Arrotéia and Carlos Kemmelmeier * Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Estadual de Maringá. Avenida Colombo, 5790, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil; E-Mails: simonegmossini@.br (S.A.G.M.); ccarroteia@uem.br (C.C.A.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ckemmelmeier@uem.br; Tel.: +5544 3263-3655 Received: 18 June 2009; in revised form: 14 July 2009 / Accepted: 21 July 2009 / Published: 23 July 2009 Abstract: In vitro trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of Azadirachta indica (neem) extracts on mycelial growth, sporulation, morphology and ochratoxin A production by P. verrucosum and P. brevicompactum. The effect of neem oil extract from seeds and leaf was evaluated at 0.125; 0.25 and 0.5% and 6.25 and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively, in Yeast Extract Sucrose (YES) medium. Ochratoxin A production was evaluated by a thin-layer chromatography technique. Oil extracts exhibited significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction of growth and sporulation of the fungi. No inhibition of ochratoxin A production was observed. Given its accessibility and low cost, neem oil could be implemented as part of a sustainable integrated pest management strategy for plant disease, as it has been shown to be fungitoxic by inhibition of growth and sporulation. Keywords: ochratoxin A; Penicillium; Azadirachta indica; biological control 1. Introduction The presence and growth of fungi in food and feeds may cause spoilage and result in a reduction in quality and quantity. Fungi produce a variety of secondary metabolites as products of their metabolism; mycotoxins are metabolites that have deleterious effects on other organisms. Ochratoxin  Toxins