Journal of Environmental Biology

Mycoflora and natural aflatoxin contamination in dried quince seeds from Jammu, India

Pinky Bala, Dimple Gupta and Y.P. Sharma*

Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu - 180 006, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: yashdbm3@yahoo.co.in

Publication Data

Paper received:

28 November 2014

Revised received:

13 June 2015

Accepted:

08 August 2015

Abstract

Eighty two samples of dried quince seeds, obtained from the markets of Jammu province, were examined for mycoflora by different isolation techniques. A total of 27 fungal species belonging to 11 genera were recovered and identified from these samples. The predominant fungal genera encountered were Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. In view of the predominance of Aspergillus flavus, a known producer of aflatoxins, screening of the fungal contaminated samples was carried out for total aflatoxin levels using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Twenty one aflatoxin positive samples contained 8.07-33.45 ?g g^-1 and 0.05-3946.97 ?g g^-1 AFB1 and AFB2 respectively. These results suggest that biochemical composition of dried quince seeds, along with climatic conditions of the region seem to be very favourable for aflatoxin production by toxigenic strains of A. flavus. Therefore, monitoring of aflatoxins in dried quince seeds is recommended for this region. ??  

 Key words

Aflatoxin, Aspergillus, HPLC, Quince seed

Copyright ? 2016 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).