View source for Penicillium roqueforti

{{Cleanup|date=April 2007}}

{{Taxobox | color = lightblue
| name = ''Penicillium roqueforti''
| image = Roquefort cheese.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Roquefort cheese, with blue ''P. roqueforti'' veins
| regnum = [[Fungi]]
| divisio = [[Ascomycota]]
| classis = [[Eurotiomycetes]]
| ordo = [[Eurotiales]]
| familia = [[Trichocomaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Penicillium]]''
| species = '''''P. roqueforti'''''
| binomial = ''Penicillium roqueforti''
}}

'''''Penicillium roqueforti''''' is a common [[saprotrophic]] [[fungus]], that is widespread in nature and can be isolated from soil, decaying organic substances and plant parts. The major industrial use of this fungus is the production of [[blue cheese]]s, flavoring agents, antifungals, [[polysaccharide]]s, [[protease]]s and other [[enzyme]]s.

While the fungus has been a constituent of [[Roquefort (cheese)|Roquefort]], [[Stilton (cheese)|Stilton]] and other blue cheeses and eaten by humans since about 500 AD, there is considerable evidence to indicate that most strains are capable of producing harmful secondary metabolites ([[alkaloid]]s and other [[mycotoxin]]s) under certain growth conditions (Peabody, 1985; Sharpell, 1985).

The chief industrial use of the fungus ''P. roqueforti'' is the production of Roquefort cheese. Strains of the microorganism are also used to produce compounds that can be employed as [[antibiotic]]s, flavors and fragrances (Sharpell, 1985), uses not regulated under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Its texture is chitinous.

The organism can also be used for the production of [[protease]]s and speciality chemicals, such as [[methyl]] [[ketone]]s (Larroche et al, 1989) and [[2-heptanone]] (Larroche and Gros, 1989; Jong and Gantt, 1987). Other strains of ''Penicillium'' species are also useful in biodeterioration (Peberdy, 1985) which may be used in applications subject to TSCA reporting.

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==References==
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:''This article is based on text originally from [http://www.epa.gov/oppt/biotech/pubs/pdf/fra008.pdf a report] of the United States [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]].''
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[[Category:Ascomycota]]

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