Survey of mycoflora and mycotoxins of some dried fruits in Egypt.

Fifty-five species and two varieties appertaing to 23 genera were collected and identified from 4 samples of dried fig and 3 dried samples of each of apricot, plum and raisin. Forty-nine species and two varieties belonging to 20 genera were isolated on 1% glucose-Czapek's while 31 species and one variety belonging to 16 genera were isolated on 40% sucrose-Czapek's agar medium at 28 +/- 2 degrees C. Penicillium, Aspergillus and cladosporium were the common genera on the two types of media used. Alternaria and Pleospora were common on 1% glucose-Czapek's agar 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 cladosporium cladosporioides. On 1% glucose-Czapek's agar, P. aurantiogriseum, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, Alternaria tenuissima and Pleospora herbarum were isolated with high occurrence while A. versicolor, A. wentii, Eurotium amstelodami and E. chevalieri were common on 40% sucrose-Czapek's agar. The different dried fruit samples were assayed for the natural occurrence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 & G2, citrinin, ochratoxins, patulin, sterigmatocystin, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin and zearalenone by thin layer chromatographic analysis. Ochratoxin A was detected in all samples tested of apricot (50-110 micrograms/kg), fig (60-120 micrograms/kg) and plum (210-280 micrograms/kg). The other mycotoxins under investigation were not detected. All samples examined of raisin proved to be mycotoxin free.