Mycoflora and mycotoxins of Brazilian cashew kernels

Kernel samples of common and dwarf Brazilian cashew nuts were highly contam inated with field and storage fungi in comparison to healthy ones. In gener al, dwarf cashews were more contaminated than common. A total of 37 fungal species were identified. Aspergillus niger was the dominant species with mo re colonies being isolated from dwarf kernels. A. flavus was the next most frequently isolated species. Penicillium brevicompactum, and P. glabrum wer e the most frequently isolated penicillia, with higher contamination record ed from dwarf kernels. Chaetomium globosum was recorded at a high level. Ni ne species were recorded from cashew kernels for the first time. Multimycot oxin analysis by tlc and hplc were positive for mycotoxins and other second ary metabolites particularly from the infected samples. Hplc was only carri ed out on dwarf cashews. Aflatoxins were not detected by quantitative high performance thin layer chromatography.