*3.4. Culture Conditions*

Fungal spore suspensions were used as a source of the inoculum for all cultivation states. *A. flavus* NRRL 21,882 was inoculated into three cultivation states: submerged cultivation, solid state, and semi-solid (slant). The incubation temperature for all strains except *A. parasiticus* (25 ± 2 ◦C) was 30 ± 2 ◦C. For submerged cultivation, 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks were filled with 100 mL PDB and inoculated with fungal strains at a 5 <sup>×</sup> <sup>10</sup><sup>5</sup> conidia/flask. All flasks were incubated at 30 ± 2 ◦C with

shaking at 220 rpm for 5 days. For solid state cultivation, Petri dishes (100 × 15 mm) containing about 25 mL of PDA were inoculated with fungal strains (5 <sup>×</sup> <sup>10</sup><sup>5</sup> conidia/plate) using a micropipette, and the spores were spread onto the plate surface by streaking. The plates were inverted and incubated at 30 ± 2 ◦C for 5 days. For slant cultivation, screwcap 25 mL glass test tubes were filled with 10 mL of PDB and inoculated with fungal strains (5 <sup>×</sup> <sup>10</sup><sup>5</sup> conidia/tube) using a micropipette, and then the spores were streaked back and forth from the bottom to the top of the slant using an inoculating loop. The tubes were placed in a rack and positioned at a 45◦ angle in the incubator at 30 ± 2 ◦C for 5 days. *Toxins* **2020**, *12*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 11
