Identification of Aspergillus nomius in Bees Visiting Brazil Nut Flowers

Fernanda Pelisson Massi; Rafael Elias Silva Penha; Marcelo Casimiro Cavalcante; Helena Paula Viaro; Josué José da Silva; Larissa de Souza Ferranti; Maria Helena Pelegrinelli Fungaro

doi:10.1264/jsme2.ME14146

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Identification of Aspergillus nomius in Bees Visiting Brazil Nut Flowers

Fernanda Pelisson Massi, Rafael Elias Silva Penha, Marcelo Casimiro Cavalcante, Helena Paula Viaro, Josué José da Silva, Larissa de Souza Ferranti, Maria Helena Pelegrinelli Fungaro

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Keywords: aflatoxin, Aspergillus section Flavi, molecular detection, pollinators of Bertholletia excelsa

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: ME14146

DOI https://doi.org/10.1264/jsme2.ME14146

The final version of this article is now available: Vol. 30 (2015), No. 3 pp. 273-275

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Abstract

We designed a primer pair (BtubNomF/BtubNomR) specifically for amplifying Aspergillus nomius DNA. In vitro assays confirmed BtubNomF/BtubNomR specificity, corroborating its usefulness in detecting and identifying A. nomius. We then investigated the occurrence of A. nomius in floral visitors of Bertholletia excelsa trees by means of PCR, and A.nomius was detected in the following bees: Xylocopa frontalis, Bombus transversalis, Centris denudans, C. ferruginea, and Epicharis flava. The presence of A. nomius in bees visiting Brazil nuts opens up new avenues for obtaining novel insights into the process whereby Brazil nuts are contaminated by aflatoxin-producing fungi.

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