Isolation and Identification of Seed Borne Fungi in some Kinds of Imported Nuts With Special Emphasis to Aflatoxigenic Fungi

Seven fungal genera were isolated from imported nuts seeds of sunflower,
watermelon and peanuts which were roasted and prepared for human consumption. The fungus Rhizopus spp. had the highest percentage among the isolated fungi (29%)
then, A. niger (16%) , Penicillium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. as well as Chaetomium spp. and Fusarium spp. which had the lowest percentage. Seed health test of stored seeds of the samples mentioned above, in addition to squash seeds showed that six genera of fungi were present. The genus Rhizopus spp. was also isolated with highest percentage (41%) followed by Aspergillus spp.(8.5%) then, Altrenaria spp., Chaetomium spp. lastly Rhizoctonia spp. and Pythium spp. which isolated with lowest percentage. Aspergillus isolates were clearly identified using the differential media, two perfect phases (Teleomorphs) of this genus were found, the first was Emercilla spp. Isolated from stored squash seeds, two fungi were also found in the same sample they were A. parasiticus and A. terreus .The second teleomorphs was Neosartorya spp. which was found in stored peanut seeds as well as A. sydowii. All the identified Aspergillus spp. were found to be non-aflatoxigenic fungi after performing selective media test.