Production and degradation of patulin by paecilomyces species,a common contaminant of silage

The production and degradation of patulin by a common silage comtaminant, Paecilomyces sp., is described. Utilising protoplasts of the parent organism, 80% degradation of radiolabelled patulin occurs over the 3-h period studied and it is proposed that this degradation effect may account for anomalies in the investigation of suspected mycotoxin poisoning.