Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-019-00220-6 ORIGINAL PAPER The efect of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa on degradation of citrinin production by Penicillium digitatum and its toxin in vitro Joseph Ahima 1,2  · Hongyin Zhang 1  · Maurice Tibiru Apaliya 3  · Xiaoyun Zhang 1  · Qiya Yang 1  · Lina Zhao 1 Received: 11 February 2019 / Accepted: 21 July 2019 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract Penicillium digitatum is a mesophilic fungus belonging to the genus, Penicillium and a producer of citrinin. This mycotoxin is a secondary metabolite and its existence has been reported in several agricultural products. In this study, the efect of Rho- dotorula mucilaginosa on the production of citrinin by P. digitatum and the degradation of citrinin in vitro was investigated. The efect of R. mucilaginosa was dependent on the type of media, yeast concentration, pH, and temperature. R. mucilagi- nosa degraded citrinin produced by P. digitatum and the toxin with a degradation rate of 91.67% and 91.61%, respectively compared to the control. The degradation of citrinin by R. mucilaginosa was signifcant in nutrient yeast dextrose broth compared to potato dextrose broth where it was fairly stable throughout the test period. The yeast concentration that showed better efcacy was 1 × 10 8 cells/mL with a degradation rate of 93.10% at 48 h. Numerically, degradation was highest at 28 °C with a pH 4.0 being the most favorable for citrinin degradation by R. mucilaginosa. Keywords Rhodoturola mucilaginosa · Citrinin · Penicillium digitatum · Ochratoxin A · Patulin Introduction Penicillium digitatum is a mesophilic fungus and a producer of citrinin which is polyketide (3R, 4S)-4,6-dihydro-8-hy- droxy-3,4,5-trimethyl-6-oxo-3H-2-benzopyran-7-carbox- ylic acid, and is often found in food, feed, and biological fuids [1, 2]. P. digitatum belongs to the genus Penicillium. Numerous studies both in vivo and in vitro have shown that citrinin has teratogenic [3], embryogenic [4], and carcino- genic [5] efect on human and animals. Also, the occur- rence of citrinin with ochratoxin A and patulin is reported to cause digestive system disorder and diarrhea in animals [6–8], found to destroy the reproductive system of mice [9], and responsible for the human Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) kidney disease [10]. The production of citrinin by P. digitatum basically occurs at the pre and post-harvest storage period of fruits and vegetables and the extent of contamination varies with the environment, harvest year, and geographical location. Therefore, it is important to adopt suitable control measures to regulate its accumulation since the consumption of these products poses a health threat to consumers. Traditionally the accumulation of mycotoxins is reported to be controlled by both physical, chemical and biological means [11–13]. Nonetheless, sensory qualities are reported to be afected by physical methods such as adsorption and fltration although it could reduce the level of the toxin in food [14]. The control of toxigenic pathogens using microbial agents has been an efective and safe method compared to the efects of synthetic fungicides on the environment and human life [15]. Biological control over the past years has proven to be a feasible substitute and a capable technique in controlling the growth of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins. Some studies have reported that mycotoxins produced by toxicogenic fungi can be controlled and/or degraded by some micro-organisms. It has been detailed that the production and accumulation of OTA produced by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarus were controlled and/or degraded by Kluveromyces thermotolerans [16]. Furthermore, patulin produced by P. expansium in apples has been demonstrated * Hongyin Zhang zhanghongyin126@126.com 1 School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China 2 Koforidua Technical University, P.O. Box KF, 981, Koforiaua, Ghana 3 Department of Agriculture for Social Change, Regentropfen College of Applied Sciences, PMB, Bolgatanga, Ghana