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Monitoring of aflatoxin G1, B1, G2, and B2 occurrence in some samples of walnut

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Abstract

This research was conducted to monitor the aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin contamination of walnut in the Hamedan province. For this purpose, 40 samples were analyzed. Aspergillus, Alternaria, Rhizopus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, yeast, and some different bacteria were isolated from walnuts. Aspergillus is the most frequent genus. Aspergillus flavus was predominantly isolated. HPLC was used for evaluation of aflatoxin contamination of walnut samples. Aflatoxins G1 (AFG1), B1 (AFB1), G2 (AFG2), and B2 (AFB2) were produced by 20 isolates. AFG1 and AFB1 were being predominant at concentration ranges of 1.7–18.2 and 0–8.2 ngg−1, respectively. Highest levels were found in one sample that was highly contaminated with Aspergillus flavus/Aspergillus parasiticus. Methyl beta cyclodextrin also was performed for detection of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus isolates. The results showed that only 31.6% (p < 0.05) of A. flavus and A. parasiticus isolates were able to produce aflatoxin. A significant difference was shown between shielded and unshielded walnut in aflatoxin contamination. The content of aflatoxin in most of the walnut samples did not reach to maximum tolerable limit for aflatoxin B1 in EU standard (p > 0.05). Thus, systematic and continues monitoring of walnuts is recommended.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a research grant from the Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch no. 3304-NIFA-11-0556. We would like to thank Dr. Leila Moradi-Haghgoo for her technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

    Reza Habibipour & Parisa Rahimi Tamandegani

  2. Department of Chemistry, Young Researchers and Elite Club, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

    Abbas Farmany

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  1. Reza Habibipour
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  2. Parisa Rahimi Tamandegani
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Correspondence to Reza Habibipour.

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Habibipour, R., Tamandegani, P.R. & Farmany, A. Monitoring of aflatoxin G1, B1, G2, and B2 occurrence in some samples of walnut. Environ Monit Assess 188, 669 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5678-4

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