1992年9月16日青森県西津軽郡鰺ヶ沢町長平のカラマツ林林床でツガカレハと思われる鱗翅目幼虫を寄主とした冬虫夏草が採集された.この菌は形態調査からサナギタケCordyceps militaris(Vuill.) Fr. と同定された.室内散光下(15-20°C)で本菌の子のう胞子を人工飼育したヨトウガの蛹に接種し,ミズゴケ中に置き培養したところ,接種蛹上に約3ヶ月後成熟した子実体が形成された.さらにその後同様の方法で3代続けて子実体を形成させることに成功した.これにより実験室内でほぼ確実にサナギタケの成熟子実体を形成させる培養法が確立された.
In order to establish their ability to produce the ochratoxin A (OCTA), seven species and three varieties of Aspergillus section Nigri were examined using malt-yeast extract agar (MYA) and rice cultures at 25 °C for 21 days. MYA cultures and moldy rice were extracted with CHCl3, and OCTA in the extracts was confirmed by HPLC and TLC. Only one strain of Aspergillus carbonarius was positive for OCTA. The levels of OCTA produced were 6.78 µg per ml of MYA and 0.4 µg per g of rice, respectively. This is first report of production of OCTA by Aspergillus carbonarius.