Response

摘要

In the published article of Palencia et al. (13), our objective was to provide evidence that isolates of the black Aspergillus species from maize and peanuts can produce the fumonisins, mycotoxins, and the ochratoxins that was indicated by analyses of isolates of this group from grapes and similar products here in the USA (14). The work was designed to provide a brief and certainly not a survey of hundreds of isolates from these two crops for this ability. We developed a rapid detection and identification procedure of the black species of Aspergillus (12) that was developed using a rep-PCR system with 20 morphotypes of black Aspergillus species, including several type species, obtained from Maren A. Klich and identified with her assistance and directions. In this work we compared these morpho-species with data generated from ITS and partial calmodulin regions. This study served as the basis of our work on the species and strains used in Palencia et al. We found no need to perform entire sequences as suggested. However, Nielsen et al. in a Letter to the Editor criticized our identity of species within this group, and their ability to produce specific isomers, and finally concentrations of the fumonisins. Nielsen et al. have issued other letters to the editor along these same lines of concern: valid determination of species and validity of concentrations.