Study on the Risk Assessment of Alternaria alternata saprophytic on Disease Spots of Apple Bitter Pit

Abstract

Abstract Background Understand the types, distribution and content of Alternaria toxins in apple lesions and epitaxial tissues caused by rotting of Alternaria alternata; Methods: Fungi were isolated from apple rot disease spots by tissue isolation. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established to investigate the production and distribution of four Alternaria toxins including alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN) and altenuene (ALT) in lesion and healthy tissues of apples inoculated with A. alternata from 3 regions; Results: The contents of AME and AOH which could be detected in lesion and healthy tissues reduced with increasing lesion diameter. The concentration of AME in lesion and in 10 and 20 mm zones apart from lesion ranged of 0.018–0.418 mg kg− 1, 0.006–0.032 mg kg− 1 and 0.004–0.006 mg kg− 1, respectively. The concentration of AOH in lesion ranged of 0.020–0.568 mg kg− 1; Conclusions: Alternaria toxins produced in infected apple could spread from the lesion to healthy parts, and the ability to produce toxins from different regions was different. Therefore, we should pay attention to this problem in fresh food processing and risk assessment to ensure consumer safety.