Deterioration in fatty acid level of Prunus amygdalus and Pinus gerardiana during infestation with toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus.

摘要

The deterioration in the fatty acid level of Prunus amygdalus [P. dulcis] and Pinus gerardiana edible seed kernels during infestation with toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus was studied. The methyl esters of mixed fatty acids were subjected to gas liquid chromatography. The fatty acids studied include: capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitolic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and gadoleic acid. Results showed that the number and concentration of fatty acids in the oil of the infested samples of both species decreased and some of the peaks disappeared while one new peak, i.e. gadoleic acid, appeared in the infested sample. This might be due to the microbial conversion of fatty acids. Depletion in fatty acid content during infestation may be attributed to their utilization or degradation into simpler forms. The increase in the capric acid concentration in Pinus gerardiana and palmitic acid in Prunus amygdalus might be due to accumulation of fatty acids produced by the fungal mycelium..