Population Density of Aspergillus Section Flavi and Aflatoxin Content in Different Types of Pistachio Nuts

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

Mehdi Mohammadi-Moghadam ¹ , Seyed Reza Fani ² , Mostafa Ghasemi ³ , Majid Aldaghi ⁴

1 - Crop and Horticultural Sciences Research Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Semnan Province (Shahrood), AREEO, Shahrood, Iran
2 - Plant Protection Research Department, Yazd Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Yazd, Iran
3 - Crop and Horticultural Sciences Research Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Qazvin Province (Qazvin), AREEO, Qazvin, Iran
4 - Plant Protection Research Department, Razavi Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Mashhad, Iran

Received: 2022-06-09 Accepted : 2022-08-24 Published : 2023-12-01

Keywords: Contamination, Mycotoxin, Secondary metabolite, FFood safety,

Abstract :

Infection of pistachio nuts with Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin is one of the serious and important threats in the process of production, export, and consumption of pistachios in the world. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites that are mainly produced by A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Aflatoxins are generally produced before harvesting and under horticultural conditions. Early-splitting pistachios are one of the most significant sources of contamination to aflatoxigenic fungi in the orchard. In the present study, the population density of Aspergillus section Flavi and aflatoxin content were investigated in early-splitting, irregular cracking, and intact pistachios of the Shahpasand cultivar. Sampling was done from the pistachio orchard of Damghan Pistachio Research Station in the first half of August, and pistachio kernel contamination and population density of the fungus were investigated. Pistachio samples were cultured on an AFPA medium using a serial dilution method (completely randomized design with three repetitions). Aspergillus section Flavi colonies were identified and counted and after three days at 28°C and dark. Aflatoxin contents of pistachio kernels were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The results were statistically analyzed by SPSS statistical software and the means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test. The results showed that the highest and the lowest contamination rates for Aspergillus section Flavi and aflatoxin have belonged to early-splitting and intact nuts, respectively (P≤0.05). The contamination rate in early splitting pistachios is much higher than in irregular cracking and intact kernel pistachios.

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