Preliminary investigations on biactive molecules concentration in Aglianico grape berries

Polyphenolic compounds biosynthesis in grape may be affected by biotic agents, such as Aspergillus spp. or Penicillium spp., that are mycotoxin-producing fungi species. This work aims to establish a possible relationship between ochratoxin A (OTA) and polyphenols in Aglianico grapes in presence of a different degree of ailing berries. Six empirical classes of Aglianico grapes with increasing number of ailing berries were considered. OTA was determined on berries juice by a semi-quantitative cELISA analysis. Polyphenols concentration from skins and berries juice were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The results showed that higher OTA concentrations were present in the juice obtained from classes with high number of ailing berries. Furthermore, polyphenols concentration of berries skins increased in the classes with high number of ailing berries. Our preliminary results seemed to demonstrate that the presence of mycotoxin-producing fungi and, consequently OTA, on ailing berries could be affect the increase of polyphenolic content in the same berries.