[Preliminary study on citral impaires the Aspergillus flavus membrane]

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Plant Pathology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Aspergillus flavus poses significant threats to agriculture and food safety.
• Understanding the impact of mycotoxins and chemical agents on fungal growth is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of citral on Aspergillus flavus hyphostroma and spores.
• To determine the impact of citral on fungal membrane integrity and nutrient uptake.

Main Methods:

• Citral exposure to Aspergillus flavus in vitro.
• Measurement of protein and reducing sugar utilization.
• Assay of [Na+, K+]-ATPase activity.
• Electrolyte leakage assessment.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological changes.
• Fast multi-channel micro-spectrophotometry (FMCM).

Main Results:

• Citral treatment resulted in porous and rough surfaces on hyphostroma and spores.
• Observed shriveling and closure of spore germination pores.
• Increased electrical conductivity by 52.8%, indicating compromised membrane integrity.
• Reduced utilization of protein (61.5%) and reducing sugar (44.3%).
• Decreased spore germination rate by 61.4%.

Conclusions:

• Citral significantly inhibits Aspergillus flavus growth and spore germination.
• Citral disrupts fungal cell membrane structure, leading to loss of selective permeability.
• The observed changes impact nutrient assimilation and overall fungal viability.