Abstract:
Peanuts are an important crop grown in Egypt for either local consumption or export
to European markets. The present study examined the importance of mycotoxigenic
Aspergilli in Egyptian peanuts from five different regions (Alexandria, El-Beheira, El-
Daqahliya, El-Sharqiya, Asyut) in two seasons (2007, 2008). This led to
consideration of different potential strategies to control aflatoxigenic A. flavus
strains and associated aflatoxin contamination of peanuts. The most common
species in peanuts were from Aspergillus section Flavi, Aspergillus section Nigri and
Aspergillus section Circumdati. Both qualitative (coconut cream agar) and
quantitative analyses (HPLC) were used to analyse the potential mycotoxin
production by strains isolated from peanuts. Of a total of 88 Aspergillus section Flavi
strains examined, 90% were aflatoxigenic. Cont/d.
