Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Chemistry

Supervisor

Dr. Ken Yeung

2nd Supervisor

Dr. Mark Sumarah

Joint Supervisor

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisin are mycotoxins produced by black Aspergilli that contaminate wine in many countries around the world. Both OTA and fumonisins are possible carcinogens to humans. There is limited data about the occurrence of OTA and fumonisins in Canadian vineyards. Therefore, a survey of the black Aspergilli from 2012-2014 has been conducted. In the mycotoxin study, high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to screen and quantify OTA and fumonisins from both black Aspergilli isolated on artificial media and grape samples. OTA was only detected from one fungal isolate and not on any grapes. Fumonisin B2, B4, and B6 were detected from both isolates and grapes, but in very low concentrations. Therefore, the risk of wine grapes contamination with OTA and fumonisins is low. In the metabolomics study, the principal component analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test was carried out on the metabolomics data obtained from the black Aspergillus extracts. Thirty-three potential metabolite markers were found to discriminate black Aspergillus species isolated from Canadian vineyards.

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