MYCOBIOTA AND TOXIGENIC ASPERGILLUS-FLAVUS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPINGCARDAMOM AND PEPPER

Cardamom and pepper were infected by Fusarium moniliforme, F. solani a nd Aspergillus flavus at different stages of development. The immature fruits were highly susceptible to colonization by Fusarium which resu lted in rotting of the berries and capsules at early stages in their d evelopment. Subsequently, they served as a good substrate for coloniza tion by species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Other fungi which occurred in small numbers were Trichoderma, Pestalotia, Rhizopus , Cladosporium as well as some actinomycetes. Aflatoxin production in vitro by A. flavus, isolated at various stages of development, was ass essed using a MAb-based ELISA. AU Aspergillus flavus isolates tested p roduced aflatoxin B1 in amounts ranging from 65-3000 ng ml-1.