SURVEY OF MYCOFLORA AND MYCOTOXINS OF SOME DRIED FRUITS IN EGYPT

Fifty-five species and two varieties appertaing to 23 genera were coll ected and identified from 4 samples of dried fig and 3 dried samples o f each of apricot, plum and raisin. Forty-nine species and two varieti es belonging to 20 genera were isolated on 1% glucose-CzAPEK'S while 3 1 species and one variety belonging to 16 genera were isolated on 40% sucrose-CZAPEK's agar medium at 28 +/- 2-degrees-C. Penicillium, Asper gillus and cladosporium were the common genera on the two types of med ia used. Alternaria and Pleospora were common on 1% glucose-CZAPEK's a gar only while the genus of Eurotium was isolated with high occurrence on 40% sucrose-CZAPEK's agar. The common species on the two types of media used were Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger and cladosp orium cladosporioides. On 1% glucose-CZAPEK's agar, P. aurantiogriseum , A. fumigatus, A. flavus, Alternaria tenuissima and Pleospora herbaru m were isolated with high occurrence while A. versicolor, A. wentii, E urotium amstelodami and E. chevalieri were common on 40% sucrose-CZAPE K's agar. The different dried fruit samples were assayed for the natur al occurrence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 & G2, citrinin, ochratoxins, pa tulin, sterigmatocystin, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin and zearalenone by thin layer chromatographic analysis. Ochratoxin A was detected in all samples tested of apricot (50-110 mug/kg), fig (60-120 mug/kg) and plum (210-280 mug/kg). The other mycotoxins under investigation were not detected. All samples examined of raisin proved to be mycotoxin fr ee.