Penicillium chrysogenum
Also known as Penicillium chrysogenum
A noble surface mould used as an alternative or partner to Penicillium nalgiovense. Valued as a protective culture that helps suppress ochratoxin-producing moulds.
Penicillium chrysogenum is a second noble mould of the curing surface, used alongside or instead of Penicillium nalgiovense to give the familiar clean white coat. It does the same protective work: shading the meat, steadying the drying and contributing to flavour.
Its particular interest is as a protective culture. Studies show it, especially combined with the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii, can actively suppress the ochratoxin-producing Penicillium nordicum, so it is not just a passive coat but part of the active defence of the Mould Control Pillar.
As with Penicillium nalgiovense, the safety is a matter of strain. The protective strains used in curing, such as the antifungal-protein producer chosen for biocontrol, are selected to be non-toxigenic, but wild Penicillium chrysogenum is not: many unselected isolates produce mycotoxins, citrinin among them, which is why only defined, screened cultures belong on the surface.
Temple element. Pillar, Mould Control