Biodegradation of patulin by a Byssochlamys nivea strain

This paper describes the discovery and isolation of a new wild-type microorganism, FF1-2 strain, for biodegradation of high concentration of patulin. The filamentous fungus FF1-2, identified to belong to Byssochlamys nivea (CCTCC M2013547), was enriched and isolated from the fermentation liquor pit mud. The patulin degradation by the FF1-2 strain was studied under such different conditions as pH, temperature and culture media. The strain grew and degraded patulin at 20～46 °C and pH 3.0-5.0. The change of pH studied had little effect on the patulin degradation capability in contrast with the significant temperature effects. The optimum temperature for patulin degradation was 37 °C, at which patulin at 500 μg/mL level in the culture media was degraded to a virtually undetectable level in 5 days. 97.1% of patulin was degraded in the apple puree at 30 °C in 9 days. This study for the first time found that filamentous fungi have the ability to degrade patulin. The experimental results manifest the potential of the FF1-2 strain in dealing with patulin contamination in such food industries as fruit processing.