Journal of Phytopathology (2008) 156, 15-20

P. Rahimi, B. Sharifnabi and M. Bahar (2008)
Detection of aflatoxin in Aspergillus species isolated from pistachio in Iran
Journal of Phytopathology 156 (1), 15-20
Abstract: To estimate the incidence contamination of fresh pistachio nuts by aflatoxigenic fungi in Iran, nut samples were collected from pistachio orchards in Kerman, Rafsanjan and Isfahan regions. Out of the 200 Aspergillus isolates obtained, 11 species were identified as A. alliaceous, A. candidus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. niveus, A. ochraceus, A. parasiticus, A. tamari, A. terreus, A. unguis and A. wentii. For detection of aflatoxin production ability of the isolates, three target genes, namely aflR, aflJ, and omtB, used in PCR amplification. In all the examined cases, the degenerate primer designed for amplification of omtB gene, named omtBII, was able to amplify an expected 611 bp fragment in aflatoxigenic isolates in this study and yielded the same result as those obtained from TLC analysis and fluorescence ability by application of methylated ß-cyclodextrin in culture media. Using this procedure the significant incidence of aflatoxin-producing aspergilli was confirmed in pistachio nuts produced in different regions of Iran. The results indicated that PCR method described here, in combination with fluorescence assay, is a reliable and simple confirmatory test for monitoring pistachio nuts contaminated with aflatoxinogenic aspergilli.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Bahram Sharifnabi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aspergillus alliaceus		Iran
	Aspergillus flavus (plant/storage disease)		Iran
	Aspergillus niger		Iran
	Aspergillus ochraceus		Iran
	Aspergillus candidus		Iran
	Aspergillus parasiticus		Iran
	Aspergillus tamarii		Iran
	Aspergillus wentii		Iran