Identification of Fungi and Detection of Mycotoxins Associated with Infected Fig Fruits

Abstract

The aim of this research is to isolate and identify the fungi associated with infected fig fruits in different Governorates in Egypt (Alexandria, Qalubia, Ismailia, Giza and Sinai), as well as study their ability to produce aflatoxins. Samples of fresh fig fruits were collected, small slices of peel were disinfected and transferred to Petri-dishes containing PDA medium and incubated at 25ºC for 5 days. The higher total fungal counts as 201, 111 and 102 isolates were recorded on the samples from Qalubia, Sinai and Ismailia, respectively and the least as 48 isolates was found on samples from Giza. Seven fungal genera were identified (Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus, A. terreus, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Cladosporium sp., Fusarium solani, Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp.). All Aspergillus genera produced mycotoxins except Aspergillus terreus which was negative producer of mycotoxins (AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 and AFG 2 ).