Investigation of Fungal Contamination in Local and Imported Nuts Which Displayed in Markets of Diyala , Iraq

Abstract

This study aimed to investigation the fungal contamination in local and imported Nuts which processed for human consuming that have been collected from local markets in Diyala – Iraq . The study showed that 8 from 11 Nuts product were contaminated with fungi and bacteria , The total fungal isolates were 48 isolate belong to 3 fungi Genus which were Aspergillus niger , Penicillium spp and  Rhizoctonia spp , The number of fungal isolates were 26 isolate of Penicillium spp , 18 isolate of Aspergillus niger and 4 isolate of Rhizoctonia spp . The occurrence percentage of  Aspergillus niger ranged from 50 % to 20 % , for Penicillium spp ranged from 100% to 50% and for Rhizoctonia spp the occurrence was 80% in one sample only , Each of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium spp were occurrence in all tested samples except one sample which was contain Rhizoctonia spp fungus only . Also this study showed that local Nuts products were less fungal contamination than imported Nuts products .

Keyword: Nuts , Aspergillus niger , Penicillium spp , Fungal contamination