Incidence of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Peanuts (Arachis hypogea L.) from Markets in Slovakia

Abstract

A total of 10 samples of peanuts (Arachis hypogea L.) were collected from the different markets in Slovakia in 2013 and 2014. Mycological analysis was carried out for the detection of fungi using standard media with focus on genera Aspergillus. The exogenous mycobiota was determined by the method of direct placing of peanuts samples on agar plates. The description of micro- and macromorphological features was used for identification of Aspergillus strains. The potentially toxigenic isolates were tested on their ability to produce aflatoxins (AFB1 and AFB2) in vitro conditions by TLC method. Aspergillus section Nigri were isolated from the surface of the peanuts, which seems to be the most wide-spread in peanuts grains from markets in Slovakia, because was detected more frequently than other species (60 strains). All of the potential aflatoxigenic fungi, which were obtained from 10 samples of peanuts (39 strains), were analyzed for determination of AFB1 and AFB2 production. The aflatoxins were produce by all of the 13 strains (100%) of A. parasiticus and 10 strains (38.46%) of A. flavus isolated from peanuts. Therefore, study concluded that peanuts seem to be risk products.

Keywords

• aflatoxins
• aspergillus parasiticus
• mycotoxin
• peanuts